Assam govt evicting minorities as pre-election purge
Guwahati : In India’s Assam state, the ongoing eviction drive by the BJP-led government has triggered serious controversy, with critics alleging that the campaign disproportionately targets Muslims and Bengali-speaking communities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the administration of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been accused of invoking land and citizenship laws to push out people labeled as “illegal Bangladeshi nationals,” a move observers say coincides with the political climate ahead of upcoming elections.
Reports indicate that more than 350 individuals have been pushed back since August 2024, including 18 people removed during the latest operation. However, rights groups and civil society members argue that authorities have failed to present credible evidence proving the foreign nationality of those evicted, raising questions about the legal and humanitarian basis of the actions.
Political analysts say the eviction campaign risks deepening communal polarization by reinforcing a narrative of “infiltration,” which they believe is aimed at consolidating support among Hindu nationalist constituencies.
Human rights observers have also expressed concern that the operations may fuel regional tensions and lead to rights violations, warning that forced evictions without transparent legal safeguards undermine constitutional protections and social cohesion.
