Assam, Bengal To Turn Into Muslim Majority State By 2044, 51 Respectively

New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, raised an alarm over massive changing demography in states like Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, claiming that these states are on the verge of becoming Muslim majority states soon. In an exclusive conversation with Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, CM Himanta asserted that with the imbalanced demography growth, Assam is likely to become a Muslim majority state by 2044, while West Bengal would become a Muslim majority state by 2051. Expressing his concerns over the unprecedented growth in the population of Muslims in the state, the chief minister termed it a “matter of life and death”.

Chief Minister Himanta clearly stated that the way the Muslim population is growing in Assam as compared to the Hindu population, Muslims will amount to 50 per cent of the total population in the state 20 years from now. With this, Assam will become the second state with the highest Muslim population in the country after Jammu and Kashmir.

‘Dhubri Has 85% Muslim Population Now’: Assam CM

During the conversation, the Assam CM even pressed that along with Assam and West Bengal, states like Bihar and Jharkhand are more likely to become a Muslim-majority state. Emphasizing his concerns, he stated that the imbalance in population growth of a particular section of society is a danger to the other section.

The Assam CM said, “I am chief minister of all citizens of Assam, Hindu and Muslim and that is why, I prefer a balanced growth, so that both Hindu and Muslim can feel secure within the state of Assam.”

“But, if the demography grows in an imbalanced way, then one section of the people will be frustrated, one section of people will lose land, one section of people will lose culture. So, then a chief minister can not be a happy person,” CM Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted claiming that one of the districts of Assam, Dhubri, has an 85 per cent Muslim population now. 

'Don't Vote For Me, But Please Control Your Population': CM Himanta

On being asked regarding his visits to the Muslim-dominated areas in Assam, he responded, “I am the sitting chief minister of Assam. I have many things to do for Muslim mothers and Muslim girls. So, I will continue my outreach among Muslim women, Muslim mothers and Muslim girls. During the election campaign also, I visited many minority areas and I told them, please don't vote for me, but control your population. Do not give your girls for marriage before 18 years of age. I told them that I have come here to appeal that, please send your girls to the school and colleges. I never changed my stance and I continue to visit Muslim-dominated areas.”

Infiltration In West Bengal, A Major Concern: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Talking about the Muslim population growth in West Bengal, he claimed that the state will raise the Muslim population of 36 per cent by 2031, which is 26 per cent at present in the state. He issued a warning over the continuous infiltration in Bengal from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, speculating that if the infiltration keeps growing, the state would likely become a Muslim-majority state by 2051. 

India Likely To Become Largest Muslim Population Country in World by 2050: Reports

Statistics show that today Indonesia is the country with the most number of Muslims in the world. However, the statistical projection indicates that by 2050, India will have around 31.1 crore Muslims, thus becoming the largest Muslim population country in the world. 

Muslim Population Reached 40% in Assam, Claims CM Sarma

Earlier in the day, Assam CM Sarma made a huge claim 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 during his visit to Ranchi on Wednesday.

His remarks made national headlines, moments after he made surprising claims. Later, in the day, CM Himanta, while 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 neighbouring countries were driving the sharp rise in population, thereby putting stress on resources.