Assamese Becoming Minority in Their Own Land: AASU Sounds Alarm

All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) President Utpal Sarma has come out strongly against what he termed as “decades-old blackmail tactics” aimed at undermining the status of the Assamese language, following controversial remarks made by an All BTC Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU) member.

In a scathing response on Thursday, Sarma warned that Assam’s indigenous communities are on the verge of becoming minorities in their own homeland. “This is not just about one remark — this is about a systematic attempt to weaken Assamese linguistic and cultural identity. The reality is that Assamese people are steadily being reduced to a minority in several districts, and we cannot ignore this anymore,” he said.

The AASU president’s comments come in the wake of a July 9 protest in Bedlangmari, Kokrajhar, where ABMSU member Mainuddin Ali allegedly stated that Bengali-speaking Muslims would no longer list Assamese as their mother tongue in official records, but instead mark Bengali.

Terming the remark a “blackmail tool” used for decades, Sarma said such tactics are unacceptable. “Whether someone lists Assamese in the census or not is not the issue. The real issue is the demographic shift caused by illegal migration, which is already altering Assam’s population balance,” he stated.

Sarma also reiterated AASU’s long-standing demand for constitutional safeguards to the Assamese language, in line with Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. He urged the government to accord permanent status to the Assam State Language Act and constitutionally protect the use of Assamese, Bodo, and Bengali in their respective regions.

He further warned that Article 347 of the Indian Constitution, which allows the President to declare another language as official in certain regions, could be misused in the future to push for alternative official languages in Assam. “The day is not far when demands will arise to elevate other languages to official status in the state — a move that will severely damage Assam’s linguistic unity,” he cautioned.

Political Firestorm Over ABMSU Remark

The student leader’s controversial remark has triggered widespread political backlash across party lines.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sharply condemned the statement, calling it a dangerous attempt to politicize language for personal or ideological gain. “Assamese is the state’s official language — protected by law and the Constitution. If someone lists Bengali, it only helps identify illegal migrants,” the CM said.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP Assam State President Dilip Saikia said the ABMSU member’s comment was a deliberate provocation. “This is not olonkar (ornament), it’s abhihaap (a curse). Language, culture, and identity are the soul of Assam — not tools for blackmail or vote-bank politics,” Saikia asserted.

He also pointed out that Assamese has already received Classical Language status, and warned against attempts to belittle it.

Raijor Dal Issues Ultimatum to ABMSU

Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi also criticized the ABMSU leader’s remark and demanded immediate disciplinary action.

“While we oppose the state’s eviction policy, it cannot be used as an excuse to undermine Assamese identity,” Gogoi said. He further warned that if ABMSU does not act against Mainuddin Ali, Raijor Dal would sever all ties with the student body.

Raijor Dal general secretary Ashraful Islam echoed the sentiment, stating that communal or linguistic polarization under the guise of protest is unacceptable. “This is a dangerous provocation that aims to divide Assam,” he added.

Congress Backs Assamese Identity, Recalls Bordoloi’s Vision

Senior Congress leader Rekibuddin Ahmed also condemned the remarks and reaffirmed support for Assamese linguistic rights. “Gopinath Bordoloi envisioned a united Assam — not one fractured by religion or language. Congress stands with the Assamese people,” Ahmed said.

He also expressed solidarity with evicted families in places like Sarupathar but emphasized that Assamese language and identity must not be compromised in the process.

ABMSU in Damage Control Mode

Facing mounting pressure, the ABMSU issued a clarification distancing itself from Mainuddin Ali’s remarks. President Taison Hussain said the comments were made in a personal capacity and not reflective of the organization’s official stance.

“Our protest was focused on inhumane evictions. What Mainuddin said was not authorized. Only the general secretary or president may speak on behalf of ABMSU,” Hussain said, adding that the union is considering internal action and remains respectful toward the Assamese language.

A Deeper Identity Crisis

This incident has once again exposed the deep fractures in Assam’s socio-political fabric — where language, identity, and migration continue to collide. With demographic shifts becoming a central concern for many Assamese groups, the call for enforceable language protection laws has never been louder.

AASU’s renewed push for constitutional safeguards, backed by support from across the political spectrum, marks a critical moment in Assam’s ongoing quest to preserve its linguistic and cultural identity — a battle, many fear, is being fought against time.

Also Read: Is the Assamese Language Under Threat? Who Said What – Including CM