The changing demography of Assam in northeast India deserves a wide and pragmatic discussion. Since the days of historic Assam Agitation (1979 to 1985), the issue remains in the hearts of indigenous population in the far eastern region. The mass movement, even though failed to fulfil the original demand to deport all illegal migrants raised by the agitating students and common people, successfully alerted the original inhabitants of the region about the looming threat over their future generation.
The unique agitation specifically made them aware of a challenging time to protect their heritage in their own land. After a half-hearted accord that agreed to provide Indian citizenship to millions of East Pakistan/Bangladesh nationals and allowed them to live in Assam as well, the situation was waiting to turn volatile. The updating of the National Register of Citizens in Assam with the basis of the same accord was expected to give little to the inhabitants, which later drew national media attention with corruption and massive mismanagement that went against the interest of local people.
The issue came alive when Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a stunning observation that the Muslim population in the State surged to 40% now from 12% in 1951. Expressing a serious concern over the demographic change in Assam, the outspoken politician commented that it was a big issue for him and the native people. The saffron leader went on speaking that it’s not a political issue but a matter of life and death for him........