Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday suggested that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, would be an effective brand ambassador for population control, as he believes a specific community predominantly listens to Congress leaders. CM Sarma also claimed that, based on current trends, Assam is on track to become a Muslim-majority state by 2041. During a press conference, CM Sarma stated, "One could visit a village with a Muslim majority and inquire about the leader they prefer to heed, and the likely response would be Rahul Gandhi, not Himanta Biswa Sarma."


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"This is why I think the Congress party should actively participate in the country's population control efforts." He referenced census data from Assam over the past decades, noting a significant increase in the Muslim population every ten years,' he added.


"Comparing the 2001 and 2011 Census data, there was about a 30 percent increase in the Muslim population in Assam, while the Hindu population increased by only 16 percent. This means the growth rate of the Muslim population was 14-15 percent higher," he explained. He concluded, "If this trend continues, Assam is projected to become a Muslim-majority state by 2041."


CM Sarma highlighted that the rise in the Muslim population has been a consistent trend for several decades. "Currently, Muslims constitute 40 percent of Assam's population, whereas in 1951, they accounted for 12 percent," he added.