1 Assam Facing an Existential Threat 2 Assam Facing an Existential Threat Assam Facing an Existential Threat Ankita Dutta 3 Assam Facing an Existential Threat All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Published by: India Policy Foundation D-51, Hauz Khas, New Delhi -110016 (India) Tele: 011-26524018 Email:
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[email protected] Website: www.ipf.org.in © India Policy Foundation Edition: First: December, 2020 4 Assam Facing an Existential Threat Introduction The issue of immigration has been a deeply complex and sensitive one in the identity politics of Assam. However, it needs to be emphasised here that the problem of illegal immigration in Assam from across the border with Bangladesh is a serious political, economic and demographic issue. In fact, it is more about saving a community‟s cultural and civilisational pride, along with its religious identity. For centuries, Indians, in all parts of the country, fiercely resisted all attacks by forces alien to their history and culture. But, unfortunately, continued brutalities and exploitation by these alien forces led to a defensive mind-set among Indians. This hesitation to be proactive has infested the psyche so much that even monstrous political and socio-economic crises are continuously ignored! The crisis facing Assam is no longer a war of swords and weapons, like the barbaric attacks in the medieval times, but a demographic war of numbers.