On December 16, the Assam Finance Minister had said 5.42 lakh people would benefit, but just 9 days later he says the number is around 4 lakhs
Himanta Biswa Sarma is often regarded as one of the most powerful people in Assam’s political circles. Though he does not hold the post of the Chief Minister, many regard him as the power behind the throne. Which is why, when Sarma makes a statement on something as controversial as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), it is bound to undergo careful scrutiny.
The Telegraph reported that while attending a peace march organized by the BJP at Barpeta on Wednesday, Sarma said, “Those leading the anti-CAA protests are spreading misinformation that crores of Bangladeshis will come to Assam from Bangladesh and get citizenship under the Act. Some are claiming that 1.2 crore will come while others are saying 2.5 crore people will come. But there is no such Hindu population in Bangladesh. A maximum of four lakh people will apply for citizenship through CAA. The number will not go beyond that. But those opposed to CAA are spreading rumours.” However, just 9 days ago, Sarma had told reporters, “According to us, 5.42 lakh people will benefit. This is our figure, which will be less when the process starts.” He said that the figure was based on the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
There is a strong anti-CAA sentiment across Assam, primarily driven by fears of an influx of Bengali Hindus from Bangladesh. The BJP has been trying a dangerous tightrope walk in the region, attempting to balance its pro-CAA agenda with its political future in the state. Already the attempt to add a communal colour to concerns about demographic changes to ethnicity in the north eastern state have backfired badly for the BJP. Is the latest revision of numbers an attempt to undo the damage?