Skip to content Skip to navigation

Assam Govt Excludes Hindu Bengalis from Foreigner Case Withdrawal, Sparking Protests

By Wahidur Rahman |

Assam government has refused to withdraw foreigner verification cases against Hindu Bengalis, sparking fierce protests and accusations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The recent modification of a government directive excludes Hindu Bengalis from the withdrawal of such cases, unlike other communities like Koch-Rajbongshi and Gorkhas. This has led to strong condemnation from Bengali Hindu organizations.

The BTAD Bengali Youth Federation accused the Assam Chief Minister of conspiring to marginalize Hindu Bengalis in the state. Ahead of the BTAD elections, they held a press conference in Goreswar, alleging that the directive amendment is a political maneuver to suppress the Hindu Bengali community. They demanded that the government reverse the decision and treat all communities equally.

On July 22, the Assam government initially ordered the withdrawal of foreigner cases against all non-Muslim communities. However, after protests by groups like the All Assam Students Union, the directive was amended to exclude Hindu Bengalis. This selective withdrawal has intensified ethnic and political tensions in Assam, especially since Hindu Bengalis form a significant voter base.

The protests gained momentum in Binohapur, Tamulpur, where hundreds of Hindu Bengalis took to the streets. Slogans condemned the state government and BJP, accusing them of injustice and conspiracy against the Bengali community. The BTAD Bengali Youth Federation called on Hindu Bengali leaders in BJP to clarify their stance and threatened to boycott BJP if demands are not met.

Furthermore, the leaders emphasized that the BJP has repeatedly sought votes from Bengalis but now appears to be sidelining them through discriminatory policies. The Hindu Bengali community vowed to continue protests and build a stronger movement demanding citizenship rights and fair treatment under the law. They condemned the state government's decision and warned of intensified agitation ahead.

The Assam government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken similar measures against foreigner cases for other communities while continuing the exclusion of Hindu Bengalis. The issue remains a flashpoint in Assam’s complex socio-political landscape, with significant implications for the 2026 elections. The community demands equal rights and opposes attempts to bar them from citizenship benefits under the amended Citizenship Act.

This ongoing dispute highlights the persistent ethnic and political challenges in Assam regarding migration, citizenship, and identity that continue to shape the state's future. The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for upcoming electoral battles.

Author info

Wahidur Rahman's picture

  • 5675 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Allegations of Undeclared Assets Put BTR Chief Pramod Boro Under Pressure

Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro is facing political heat after opposition parties alleged that he failed to disclose multiple land holdings in the name of his wife and family in his nomination affidavit. According to complaints raised by the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) and Raijor Dal, Boro’s wife, Parul Boro (also recorded as Parul Bharali), owns at least nine parcels of land in Rangia, Kamrup district. Opposition leaders claim that many of these properties were purchased after Boro became the BTR’s executive head, but details were not reflected in his election affidavit. The issue came to light after a regional news agency and political...

Gauhati HC Orders Murder Charges Against Rat-Hole Mine Operators in Umrangso Tragedy

The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to prosecute those responsible for the Umrangso rat-hole mine tragedy under charges of murder, holding that the deaths of nine miners in April this year cannot be treated as mere negligence. The accident occurred at 3 Kilo in Umrangso, Dima Hasao district, when nine workers lost their lives in an abandoned coal mine that was being operated illegally. Despite a ban imposed on rat-hole mining, such activities continue to flourish in the region. Hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation, Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar observed that the continued practice of illegal rat-hole mining pointed to a grave dereliction of duty by the...

Motok Community Announces Series of Protests Demanding ST Status

The Motok community, regarded as one of Assam’s indigenous groups with a long history of cultural and social identity, has announced a series of agitation programmes pressing for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and Sixth Schedule autonomy. The decision was taken under the joint initiative of the Sadou Asom Motok Sanmilan, Sadou Asom Motok Yuba-Chatra Sanmilan, Sadou Asom Motok Chhatra Santha, Sadou Asom Motok Mahila Parishad, and the Sadou Asom Motok Yuba-Chatra Parishad, with support from various district units. A massive rally has been scheduled in Tinsukia town on September 19 at 5 PM, where thousands are expected to participate, raising slogans asserting their rights...

AMSU Launches Assam Economic Blockade Over Delay in ST Status

The All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU) has begun an indefinite economic blockade in Tinsukia district to protest delays in granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six ethnic communities of Assam. The groups pressing for recognition include the Morans, Tai Ahoms, Mottocks, Koch Rajbongshis, Sooteas, and the Tea Tribes, who are currently listed as OBCs. AMSU leaders argue that the Moran Autonomous Council, created in 2020, lacks the powers given to Sixth Schedule autonomous councils, leaving the community without equal constitutional safeguards. Accusing successive governments of betraying their promises, AMSU general secretary Jaikanta Moran said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014...

ASP Pallav Tamuli Suspended Amid Allegations of Bribe from Cattle Traders

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), Pallav Tamuli, has been suspended following allegations that he accepted a bribe of ₹2 lakh from cattle traders in connection with illegal cattle smuggling. According to reports, Tamuli was accused of colluding with a cattle smuggling network and providing protection in exchange for money. During an inquiry conducted under the supervision of senior police officers, traders allegedly named him as being involved. Based on preliminary departmental findings, the authorities ordered his suspension. The case gained public attention after an audio clip surfaced on social media, purportedly containing a conversation between Tamuli and a trader. In...

Greedy Traders Hike Prices Overnight, Rob Citizens Ahead of GST Relief

Even before the Modi government’s much-publicized GST rate cut takes effect on September 22, unscrupulous traders in Assam have shamelessly hiked prices of essential goods overnight, looting ordinary citizens under the nose of a silent administration. Back in 2014, BJP had mocked the Congress over “Mahangai ki Maar” with Modi’s posters plastered across cities. Eleven years later, LPG has doubled from ₹400 to ₹1,000, petrol has crossed ₹100, and inflation is squeezing households harder than ever. Instead of relief, citizens are paying the price of collusion between traders and politicians. Despite the GST Council’s decision to slash slabs to 5% and 18% — which should bring down prices...

Gauhati High Court Stays Eviction Drive in Biswanath’s Nij Baghmara

ordered a stay on the proposed eviction drive. The court issued the directive during a hearing today and fixed September 8 as the next date of hearing. Nearly 50 affected residents had approached the High Court seeking relief after receiving eviction notices from the district administration. During the September 5 hearing, the state government sought more time to file an affidavit, prompting the court to defer the matter. The eviction was earlier scheduled for September 7. Notices were issued on August 18, giving residents 15 days to vacate their houses. The Biswanath district administration had identified 265 bighas, 3 kathas, and 15 lechas of land under Dag Nos. 189 (VGR) and 203 (...

Two Workers Die in Illegal Borgolai Coal Mine, Silence of Authorities Raises Questions

Two workers, including Sunil Roy of Borgolai “Mati Line,” died in an illegal coal mine accident at Borgolai, Margherita, on September 1. Another worker, Pankaj Pal of Ledo Bazar Line, was injured and later succumbed at Margherita Civil Hospital. The deaths have triggered outrage after reports emerged that police, administration and sections of the media allegedly tried to suppress the incident. Families of the victims claimed the men died of “high blood pressure,” fuelling suspicion of a cover-up. Prateek Bordoloi, son of Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, in a Facebook post accused the government of shielding the coal syndicate: “With Dispur’s patronage, Margherita has become a death valley...

Assam Jal Jeevan Mission Contractors Protest Over ₹12,500 Crore Unpaid Bills

Guwahati: Amid rising concerns over the state’s financial management, thousands of contractors working under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Assam staged a massive 10-hour protest in Guwahati on Monday, demanding clearance of unpaid bills amounting to nearly ₹12,500 crore. The demonstration, organized by the All Assam Public Health Engineering Contractors’ Association, took place in front of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) headquarters at Hengrabari. Contractors accused both the state and central governments of negligence, alleging that while a handful of politically connected contractors were paid, nearly 8,500 to 9,000 registered local contractors remain unpaid for over 21...

Congress Leader Gaurav Gogoi Defends Legacy, Challenges Amit Shah in Assam Rally

On August 31, 2025, at a massive Congress rally in Lahowal, Dibrugarh, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President and MP Gaurav Gogoi strongly rebutted Union Home Minister Amit Shah's criticisms, declaring firmly, "Do not try to intimidate me because I am a descendant of Lachit." Gogoi condemned Shah’s repeated attacks implying he is not fit to lead Assam due to alleged Pakistan links. Addressing thousands of Congress workers, Gogoi vowed to fight relentlessly against false accusations and asserted that the upcoming assembly elections would be fought on grounds of social welfare, local empowerment, and transparency. He promised to close liquor shops in tea gardens, open government schools,...