"If Population Is Not Checked In Lower Assam...": Himanta Biswa Sarma

Lower Assam areas have a huge Bengali-speaking Muslim population.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today stirred controversy in the Assembly when he said that the state will face severe issues if the population is not checked in some areas. He also brushed aside the pleas by Opposition parties against the eviction drives taking place in the state.

“If people of lower Assam do not do family planning, it will be difficult for us to survive after 50 years. There are eight to twelve children in a family" Mr Sarma said while taking part in a zero-hour discussion.

Lower Assam areas have a huge Bengali-speaking Muslim population.

The Assam Chief Minister made the remarks after Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha raised the issue of a massive eviction drive earlier this week at Batadrava in the state's Nagaon district.