Guwahati, Assam: A major political controversy has erupted in Assam following a controversial statement made by Sayeda Hameed, a former member of the Planning Commission under the previous UPA government. During a recent visit to the state, Hameed, a prominent activist, was quoted as saying, “Bangladeshi aaye to kya hua” (So what if they are Bangladeshis?), a remark that has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders and civil society groups.
Hameed, who was in Assam with a delegation of activists including Prashant Bhushan and Harsh Mandar, was addressing the issue of the state government’s ongoing eviction drives targeting alleged illegal settlers. She argued that the people being evicted, who are often labeled as “Bangladeshis,” are also human beings and have the right to live. Her comment, “Earth is so large,” further fueled the controversy.
She accused the Assam government of unfairly targeting a particular community by using the label of “Bangladeshi.”
Political Reactions and Public Relations Fallout
The statement has been met with a furious response from the ruling BJP and other parties in Assam. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju immediately hit back at Hameed, calling her remarks “misleading in the name of humanity.” Rijiju stated that the issue is not about human rights but about protecting the land and identity of the indigenous people of Assam.
He emphasized that the influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh has been a long-standing issue that threatens the demographic and cultural fabric of the state.
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has also strongly condemned the comments, accusing Hameed and her delegation of being a “lobby” that is trying to destabilize the state. The Chief Minister’s office has stated that the eviction drives are being carried out legally to clear government land from encroachments, regardless of the religion or origin of the settlers.
The controversy has become a public relations nightmare for the activists, as their visit, intended to highlight human rights concerns, has instead focused public attention on a highly sensitive issue. The “Bangladeshi aaye to kya hua” comment has been widely shared on social media, with many users expressing outrage and accusing the activists of being out of touch with the ground realities of Assam.
The incident underscores the deep-seated tensions surrounding illegal immigration in Assam, where a decades-old movement for the detection and deportation of foreigners has been a defining feature of the state’s politics. The remarks by Sayeda Hameed have further polarized the debate, with the BJP seizing on the opportunity to portray its opponents as being against the interests of the indigenous Assamese people.
