Himanta Biswa Sarma cites Mahatma Gandhi, advocates ‘civil disobedience’ to drive out illegal Bangladeshis

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 4 laid out what he described as a deliberate policy of “civil disobedience and non-cooperation,” inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, to deal with illegal Bangladeshi nationals in the state, asserting that his government is creating conditions that make it impossible for them to continue living in Assam.

Speaking on the sidelines of distributing seed funds under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA) to beneficiaries in the Sivasagar Legislative Assembly Constituency, the Chief Minister claimed that security forces are pushing back 20–30 illegal Bangladeshi nationals every day along the Assam border. However, he argued that mass deportation through formal channels is impractical. 

“You cannot make a line and send all these illegal Bangladeshis back by train. Hence, we have to trouble them here and also at the border. Only then will they leave Assam automatically,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister maintained that instead of forcibly sending people back, the government’s approach is to compel them to leave on their own. “Rather than sending them, they should be bound to go back themselves. Now we have evicted 1.5 lakh bigha of land, which they will never get back. That means they have to go back from Assam,” he stated.

Drawing a distinction between popular movements and administrative action, Sarma said his approach differs from traditional agitation-based politics. “The concept of ‘andolan’ and mine is different. Mine is to create an environment where they cannot stay—don’t give them land, car, rickshaw or carts. Then Bangladeshis will automatically go away,” he said, claiming that his strategy has been successful.

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He further asserted that despite daily pushbacks, no one has challenged the government’s actions in court. “Every day 20–30 people are being pushed back, but no one has dared to approach the court. Tell me whose system is better now,” Sarma remarked, defending what he called a dual strategy of border enforcement and internal pressure.

Explicitly invoking Gandhian philosophy, the Chief Minister said, “This is called civil disobedience and non-cooperation, followed by Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi taught us two things—non-cooperation and civil disobedience. When Assamese people start non-cooperation and civil disobedience, illegal Bangladeshi nationals will vacate our land automatically.”

Sarma went further to urge social and economic non-cooperation at the grassroots level. “Before boarding a rickshaw, one must think whether the person is indigenous or Miya. My system is civil disobedience and non-cooperation—don’t give shelter to Miya of Bangladesh,” he said.

At the same time, the Chief Minister stressed the need to differentiate between illegal migrants and indigenous communities. “Understand the difference between Miya and Muslim. Don’t trouble indigenous Muslims in the name of Miya, and don’t shelter Miya in the name of indigenous Muslim. We must have no connection with Miyas coming from Bangladesh,” he said.

He concluded by asserting that his government would not intervene if action is taken against illegal Bangladeshi migrants, but would firmly oppose any harassment of indigenous Muslims. “If someone is troubling Miya Bangladeshi, I don’t have to say anything. But if the same goes for indigenous Muslims, we will never support it,” Sarma added.