40% Muslims in Assam: Himanta Tells Arnab Why Changing Demography is a Huge Concern | EXCLUSIVE

New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made a big statement claiming that the Muslim population in the state has reached 40 per cent now. "Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, Muslim population has reached 40% today. In 1951, it was 12%. We have lost many districts. This is not a political issue for me. It is a matter of life and death for me", Himanta told reporters in Ranchi on Wednesday.

Moments after his remarks made national headlines, Himanta, in an exclusive interview with Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, revealed how several districts in Assam have changed from being Hindu-dominated to a Muslim majority and why this was a 'matter of life and death for him'. The Assam CM also explained how migrants from Bangladesh and neighboring countries were actually driving the sharp rise in population, thereby putting stress on resources.

"Arnab, I am speaking on the basis of the 2011 census. Every ten years, Assam witnesses a growth of the Muslim population by 30 per cent. This is a simple calculation, and maybe I am being a little bit conservative. The total Muslim population might have crossed 40 per cent," Himanta Biswa Sarma said on his 40 per cent Muslim population in Assam now.

"Out of the total 40 per cent, 3 to 4 per cent would be original Indigenous Muslims, and 36 to 37 per cent would be Muslims who have come from Bangladesh, who are immigrants," Himanta further added, following up on his earlier remarks.

On being asked whether 36% of Assam's population could be of illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh, Himanta said "Look, it is difficult to say all are illegals. But the fact remains, 30 per cent of Muslims have their roots in Bangladesh."

"Assam, Bengal, and Jharkhand are the states where demography is changing fast, including Tripura," Himanta said while replying to Arnab's pointed question on why this was a threat to Assam.

"These illegal occupants are putting stress on Assam's resources," he further said.

Himanta also said this should be a national issue. "Assam, Tripura, Bihar, and Jharkhand are of serious concern. People are trying to create a vote bank," Himanta added.

Himanta Biswa Sarma will be LIVE with Arnab at 9 PM. Stay tuned. 

Is Majority in Danger in India?

The majority religious population in India has declined significantly by 7.82 per cent between 1950 and 2015, while the minorities have registered an increase in their share during the same time period, according to the analysis in a working paper published by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) members. The study showed that the reduction in the majority share in India is only next to Myanmar which witnessed a 10 percent decline, among the 167 countries analysed in a working paper.  

"The share of Muslim population in 1950 was 9.84 percent and increased to 14.09 percent in 2015, a 43.15 percent increase in their share. Within the immediate neighborhood of South Asia, India has witnessed the biggest decline in the majority population only next to Myanmar,” the working paper reads.

The paper is authored by EAC-PM members Shamika Ravi, Apurv Kumar Mishra, a consultant with the council, and Abraham Jose, a professional associated with EAC-PM. 

The report had claimed that contrary to the noise in several quarters, imagining threat to minority groups and their marginalisation in the country, as many as 28 careful analysis of the data showed that minorities are not just protected but ‘indeed thriving in India.’