Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma firmly reiterated that Assamese remains the official language of the state, warning that language should not be used as a “tool for blackmail.” His remarks came in response to a statement by the All Bodoland Territorial Council Minority Students Union (ABMSU), which claimed that Bengali-speaking Muslims would now prefer Bengali over Assamese in official declarations.
“Language cannot be used as a tool for blackmail. In Assam, Assamese is permanent—both as the state and official language,” Sarma said at a press briefing. He further remarked that opting for Bengali in documents like electoral rolls or the Census would only aid in identifying “the number of foreigners” in the state, implying stricter scrutiny for those distancing themselves from the Assamese linguistic identity.
The controversy was sparked by ABMSU leader Mainuddin Ali, who asserted that Bengali-speaking Muslims would now publicly declare Bengali as their mother tongue, arguing that Assamese was no longer the majority language. The statement has drawn criticism, with Sarma underscoring the state’s commitment to preserving its linguistic and cultural identity.
