‘Return to primitives and gain adivasi status’: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma on Basundhara Mission

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said a person can claim to be indigenous if he produces documents or identity before converting. He shared his insights on the mission of Basundhara in the State Assembly.

“If you produce your documents or identity before conversion, then you can claim to be an Aboriginal, then you will also get Aboriginal status,” the Assam chief minister said.

He also claimed that some Hindus were forced to convert to Islam during the Mughal period. Salma gives a choice and says these people can reclaim their indigenous identity by returning to their roots by re-accepting Hinduism.

The chief minister on Thursday was discussing the issue of allotment of land and pattas to the indigenous people of Assam.

He quoted the definition of Aboriginal – “A person who has lived in a place for many years is an Aboriginal. An Aboriginal is a native, just like we say a Red Indian is a native of America.”

In this context, he said anyone who comes to Assam from outside Assam and settles there cannot be called indigenous.

Replying to a rhetorical question from an opposition MLA about Miyaan (Bengali, Muslim of Bengali origin) not getting Patta, the CM responded that Miyan had come recently, adding “even those who came to this land (Assam) 100 years ago People from other states cannot get patta.” It can be said that they are indigenous.

Himanta Biswa Sarma made it clear that Basundhara was not a place for immigrant Muslims. He said there will be another land distribution process for people coming to Assam from other parts of the country.

On the issue of allotment of land to the people of Char (Reverine) area, CM Sarma said that till date, land assessment has not been completed. The Congress government has not even initiated the land registration process in the Char district. He said a separate policy should be formulated for the Char region.