Assam CM warns activist Medha Patkar, says eviction drives will continue

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, October 25 slammed social activist Medha Patkar over the state’s ongoing anti-encroachment drives, saying the government will press ahead with evictions despite outside opposition.

Speaking to the media, CM Sarma accused what he described as the “left ecosystem” and activists like Patkar of being out of touch with Assam’s ground realities and the security and demographic threats the state faces. He told reporters that opposition to evictions would not deter the administration and warned that continued interference could lead to further demolitions. “If Medha Patkar says eviction shouldn’t happen, I will make sure to demolish two more houses,” the chief minister said. 

Sarma asserted that outsiders and activists did not appreciate local grievances. He referenced allegations of land loss and social stresses, asking rhetorically who is responsible for taking “our mati, our jati” and asserting the government alone understands the “mental pressure” faced by residents. In the same remarks he warned that anyone who intervenes in the eviction process would face stricter action. 

The comments come against the backdrop of a long-running campaign by the Assam government to clear illegal encroachments on protected lands. Authorities say the drives are intended to reclaim forest, satra and other public lands; critics contend the operations disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and have led to large-scale displacement and tensions in parts of the state.