Don’t Brand Evicted Citizens as Illegal Immigrants: AAP Slams Assam CM

A high-level delegation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Assam unit, was on Saturday prevented by police from entering the eviction site in Paikan, Goalpara district, where the state government has been conducting a major eviction drive in a forested area. Following the blockade, the AAP’s Goalpara district unit staged a protest at the police barricade, raising strong objections to what it called a “harassment of citizens in the name of eviction.”

The delegation, which included senior state and district-level AAP leaders, had travelled to Paikan to meet families affected by the eviction operation. However, police personnel deployed in the area did not allow them to proceed to the site, citing security reasons.

Leading the delegation were Rajib Saikia (State General Secretary, Organisation), Anurupa Dekaraja (State Vice President), Victor Gogoi (State Secretary, Administration), Jitu Deka (Youth Wing President), and Jinna Amir Hussain (District President, Goalpara), along with several other party workers. The team raised slogans at the barricade and called for an immediate halt to the evictions.

So far, the administration claims to have cleared over 1,035 bighas of land in the area, evicting around 1,080 families, and declaring the land as "encroachment-free." However, the AAP strongly condemned the manner in which the evictions were carried out, without what they described as “due rehabilitation or adequate compensation.”

Speaking at the protest site, State General Secretary Rajib Saikia said, “AAP cannot support any eviction that harasses people and violates their rights. These evictions are clearly anti-people and anti-Assam.” He alleged that the drive is less about forest conservation and more about paving the way for land acquisition by powerful corporate entities like Adani, Ambani, and Ramdev. “This model of development, which destroys agriculture and displaces the poor, is not acceptable,” he said.

AAP leaders reiterated that the party is not against development or industrialisation, but strongly opposes any projects that result in displacement of long-settled communities—particularly those living in forest, hilly or Sixth Schedule areas—without legal safeguards or rehabilitation.

Vice President Anurupa Dekaraja, who also serves as the party’s Lok Sabha in-charge for Guwahati, accused the Chief Minister of deliberately trying to polarise the issue by equating evicted locals with illegal immigrants. “If the Chief Minister claims these people are illegal immigrants from a particular community, then why did the government provide them with plots of land and ₹50,000 in financial assistance instead of deporting them?” she asked.

The AAP has demanded a complete halt to the eviction drive in Paikan and other such areas, and urged the Assam government to adopt a more humane, legal, and transparent approach while dealing with land and forest encroachments.

The party warned that it will continue to resist what it sees as anti-people policies and displacement of marginalised communities in the name of development.

Statewide AAMSU Protests Erupt Across Assam Against Eviction Drives

Meanwhile, the All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) organized widespread and coordinated protests across multiple districts of Assam on Saturday, vehemently opposing the state government's ongoing eviction drives. The student body termed the operations as "inhuman" and "anti-minority," demanding an immediate halt to evictions, fair compensation, and proper rehabilitation for affected families.

Bilasipara (Dhubri District)

In Bangalipara, Bilasipara, a high-voltage protest was led by AAMSU central president Rejaul Karim. The demonstration, launched in response to recent evictions in the area, saw a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces to maintain control at the protest site.

Bijni (Chirang District)

AAMSU's Chirang district unit staged a rally in Bijni demanding adequate compensation and resettlement of evicted families. The protest march began from Bijni-Subhaijhar Road but was stopped midway by the police, resulting in a standoff between protesters and law enforcement.

Bongaigaon

In Bongaigaon, hundreds joined a massive protest led by the district AAMSU unit. The procession began from Bhawlaguri in New Bongaigaon and headed toward the Deputy Commissioner's office. Protesters raised fiery slogans such as “Stop attacking minorities,” “Down with Himanta Biswa Sarma,” and “Go back Assam Government.” Police erected barricades, but more than a hundred AAMSU activists attempted to break through, escalating tensions.

Chirang (Kajolguri)

In Kajalgaon, Chirang, AAMSU denounced the eviction operations as "inhuman" and launched a protest march from the District Yoga Centre to the DC’s office. However, police blocked the march using bamboo barricades. Protesters responded with strong slogans against the eviction drive, turning the protest site into a flashpoint of resistance.

Doboka (Hojai District)

Doboka witnessed a spirited protest organized by the Hojai district unit of AAMSU. Protesters marched through the town's central areas demanding an immediate end to evictions. They also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister seeking central intervention.

Tamulpur

In Tamulpur, the district unit of AAMSU held a protest midway toward the DC’s office. Carrying banners and placards, demonstrators shouted slogans such as “Stop evictions,” “Down with Assam Government,” and “Long live AAMSU,” as they condemned the alleged targeting of minority communities across Assam.

Nagaon

AAMSU’s protest in Nagaon turned intense as over a hundred members took to the streets to oppose the ongoing eviction drive. A scuffle broke out between the protesters and the police, while slogans against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma echoed throughout the protest site.

Mangaldoi (Darrang District)

In Mangaldoi, a large AAMSU rally was held at Kharupetia bus stand, where the organization issued a stern warning to the government. AAMSU advisor Ainuddin Ahmed said that if the eviction drives are not stopped, the student union would launch a “March to Dispur” campaign and “shake the Chief Minister’s chair.” The protest saw a strong police presence attempting to control the agitated crowd.

Salbari (Baksa District)

AAMSU’s Baksa district unit organized a forceful protest in Bhakuamari, Salbari, condemning the state’s eviction policy as inhumane. The demonstrators raised slogans like “Down with Assam Government,” “Down with Himanta Biswa Sarma,” “Stop violating human rights,” and “Long live AAMSU.”

The synchronized protests reflect growing outrage among Assam’s minority communities over what AAMSU describes as a state-backed campaign of displacement. The student union has vowed to intensify its agitation if the government does not address their demands for justice, dignity, and humane rehabilitation for the evicted.

Also Read: Eviction in Goalpara Sparks Suicide Attempt, Locals Decry Govt Apathy