Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged families in the state to “aim for two or three children”, insisting that the local population would otherwise ‘disappear’ after 20 to 30 years. The remarks came mere days after the senior BJP leader claimed that ‘Bangladeshi Muslims’ could constitute nearly 40% of the state population in the next census.
“Each family should aim for two to three children. Otherwise, after 20–30 years, the Assamese people will disappear,” he opined on Friday.
Sarma had also sparked political outrage at the end of December 2025 — issuing a similar message for the Hindu community in Assam. The CM claimed there were “concerning” disparities in birth rate across communities with the Muslim population growing at a faster rate. He insisted that this could have long-term societal implications and urged Hindu families to “not stop atone child” in these localities.
‘Bangladeshi Muslims’ to become 40% of Assam population: Sarma
Sarma claimed on Thursday that “Bangladeshi Muslims” could constitute nearly 40% of the Assam population in the next Census. The CM had previously asserted that a demographic change has been happening in the northeastern state in recent decades — with a steady increase in the population of Muslims of Bangladeshi origin. He had also claimed in July last year that the population of Muslims in Assam would be almost equal to that of the Hindus by 2041 if the current growth rate continued.
“The Census will bring more unfortunate news for Assam. The number of Bangladeshi Muslims will touch nearly 40 per cent (of the total state population)…We will try that all doubtful Miya Muslim votes are cut (during SIR). I have instructed all MLAs and BLAs to flag any doubtful person and register complaints through the proper process,” he told reporters.
Continued concern over birth rate
Several politicial leaders and influential personalities have voiced concerns about skewed demographics in recent years — with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also issuing warnings about “population jihad” in 2024. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat also insisted last year that every Indian couple should have three children.
“We earlier had a legislation that allowed people with not more than two children to contest in local body and civic body polls. Now I say that those with fewer children will not be allowed to contest elections. In the future, you will become a sarpanch, municipal councillor or mayor only if you have more than two children. I am going to include this (in the proposed rules),” Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu added in January 2025.