Assam Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently appealed to the Muslims in the state to adopt birth control measures to check the population growth. With the emerging data, CM Sarma’s concern seems to be correct.
According to analysis, the number of voters in as many as 40 Muslim-dominated constituencies revealed an exponential increase in the number of voters in the last 10 years, rising from 30% to 55%.
Districts including Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Hojai show that the district’s demography has changed radically after the population growth of Muslims in the area. In the Barpeta district, the number of Muslim voters increases by more than 50% from 2011 to 2021. The increase in number also highlights the upsurge in immigration activities.
The growth rate in some other constituencies was as follows- Haflong 13%, Bokajan 14%, Patasarkuchi 15%, Guwahati East 6%, Dharmapur 11%, Sibsagar 12%, Amguri 13% etc.
It is worthy to note that these constituencies are located in places dominated by indigenous communities like caste Hindu Assamese and local tribal populations.
The increase in the proportion of Muslims in the population can also be seen in the election results. Out of these 40 constituencies, Bharatiya Janata Party won only 7 seats while Badruddin Ajmal led AIUDF with Congress alliance won the major portion.
This shows that the concern of Himanta Biswa Sarma is valid to stabilize the population and the state’s demographic profile.
“We want to work more for the minority Muslim community to reduce population burden. We want to work together with them so that the population in the state is controlled. The population is the main root of social menace like poverty, land encroachment and we can reduce this social menace if the population is reduced,” Himanta Biswa Sarma had told media reporters in Assam.
