Assam will not return to days of bomb blasts, bloodshed: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Declaring that Assam will not return to its violent past, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 19 asserted on the floor of the Assam Legislative Assembly that the state would not witness “a single bomb blast, a single firing incident, or a single drop of Assamese youth’s blood” under the present government.

Addressing members on the final day of the Assembly session, Sarma said Assam has completed five years without any casualty involving civilians, security personnel, or local youth, a period he described as transformative for the state.

“We will not allow a single bomb blast in Assam — not one firing, not the death of a police or army personnel, and not a single drop of Assamese youth’s blood falling on the ground,” the Chief Minister said, recalling the dark days when explosions such as the Dhemaji blast claimed the lives of children and when the deaths of police and army personnel deeply scarred the state.

Referring to years of insurgency involving groups like United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I), Sarma said the pain of violence — whether of security forces or misguided youth — had long troubled Assam. “Those were painful times. Today, we have moved forward,” he stated.

Highlighting what he termed a “journey of transformation,” the Chief Minister said the past five years marked a decisive shift toward peace, stability and development. He emphasised that during this period, there were no casualties among the Army, police, CRPF, or local youth.

Sarma also underlined the Centre’s engagement with the state, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Assam multiple times every year. In contrast, he said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited the state only twice in five years after being elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam.

“In 1962, it was said, ‘My heart goes out to the people of Assam.’ In 2026, it is said, ‘My heart stays with Assam,’” Sarma remarked, calling it symbolic of the Centre’s deepened commitment to the state under the present leadership.

He concluded by describing the period as five years of peace, progress and renewed confidence, asserting that Assam has transitioned from an era of insurgency and instability to one of security and growth.