Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again sparked controversy after making remarks about population growth in the state. He urged Hindu families in Assam to have more than one child, saying that the birth rate among Hindus is declining compared to areas dominated by religious minorities.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sarma said that the number of children being born in minority-dominated regions is higher, while Hindu families are having fewer children. According to him, this difference in birth rates is becoming more noticeable. “In areas dominated by religious minorities, the rate of childbirth is higher. Among Hindus, the rate of childbirth is going down,” he said.

The chief minister said this was the main reason behind his appeal to Hindu couples. He urged them not to stop at having just one child. “We are asking Hindu families to have at least two children. Those who are capable can even have three,” he said. At the same time, he added that Muslim families should avoid having a very large number of children. He claimed that if Hindu families continue to have fewer children, there may not be enough people in the future to preserve Hindu households and traditions.

Earlier, on December 27, Sarma had also spoken about population trends in Assam, particularly about people of Bangladeshi-origin Miya Muslim communities. He said their population could reach 40 percent by the time of the 2027 census. He pointed out that when he started his political career with the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), their population was around 21 percent. This figure increased to 31 percent in the 2011 census, he said.

The chief minister further claimed that if this trend continues, the Assamese population could fall below 35 percent in the future. He also made a controversial statement suggesting that Bangladesh would not need to wage a war to take over northeast India. According to him, demographic changes alone could lead to such a situation if the population crosses 50 percent.

Sarma also criticised the Congress party over a recent demand by a Congress spokesperson to reserve 48 Assembly seats for Muslims. He said the BJP supports reservation for Assamese people regardless of religion, while the Congress demands reservations based on religion. He added that the Congress did not take action against the spokesperson, claiming the party depends on a particular voter base.

The chief minister’s comments have once again brought focus to the long-running debate in Assam over population growth, migration, identity, and citizenship. These issues have remained politically sensitive in the state for many years, especially in relation to allegations of undocumented immigration from Bangladesh.