Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed serious concern over the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshis in the state. While talking to reporters in Barak Valley, he revealed that some local youths are helping Bangladeshis enter India. According to Sarma, these middlemen charge around ₹20,000 from each person. He expressed grief that these middlemen also include many “Hindu youths” who have been found involved in such illegal activities.
Active syndicate and government action
The Chief Minister informed that an organized syndicate is carrying out smuggling of people from Bangladesh. However, he also claimed that several members of this network have been arrested. He informed that illegal infiltration takes place mainly through Tripura, Dawki, Mankachar and Sribhumi. Those caught are being detained immediately and the government has implemented additional security measures to prevent new illegal entry. Sarma made it clear that the Assam government will not tolerate illegal entry at any cost.
BJP distances itself from controversy over Bengali language
The Assam Chief Minister distanced himself and the party from the controversial statement made by BJP IT Cell National Convenor Amit Malviya on Bengali language. Emphasizing the cultural and national importance of Bengali language, he said, “How can Bengali be called the language of Bangladesh? Nobel laureates like Rabindranath Tagore were from West Bengal. Bengali has the status of a classical language and it is one of the major official languages of the country. The BJP has always respected the Bengali language and will continue to do so.” His statement is being seen as an attempt to reassure the Bengali society.
Background of the controversy and the Chief Minister’s assurance
The controversy started when on August 5, Delhi Police in a communication described Bengali as “Bangladeshi language”, to which the Trinamool Congress strongly objected. The next day, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya supported this explanation, saying that the term ‘Bangladeshi language’ is a shorthand used to identify migrants and not a comment on the language spoken in West Bengal. This led to resentment among Bengali Hindus. In such an atmosphere, Chief Minister Sarma assured that no Bengali Hindu in Barak Valley will face any problem related to Aadhaar. His stand clearly reflects an attempt to calm the controversy and maintain harmony in the state.
