In the northeastern Indian state of Assam, two parallel crises have erupted, each exposing deep fissures in the region’s social and political fabric. Over the past week, a controversial demolition drive targeting Muslim communities and a heated land dispute involving tribal villagers have both drawn national scrutiny, sparking fierce debate over justice, rights, and the rule of law.
On September 1, 2025, Maulana Mahmood Madani, President of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, visited several Assam localities where Muslim homes had recently been demolished. His observations were stark and emotional. According to ANI, Madani described the demolition campaign as “not only inhumane but also in violation of the Supreme Court's directives.” Addressing the media, he recounted, “Eviction drive is being carried out in the state...I visited several areas yesterday. Seeing the manner in which it is being done here is saddening. If you visit and see this, see the system, you will be saddened. I was pained, especially because communities and countries are formed under a system. If anything is done in violation of the system, if it is overlooked and trampled on is unfortunate and painful. The more it is condemned, the less it is.”
Madani’s words painted a grim picture of despair and humiliation. “I saw the despair and helplessness on people's faces. The most painful part is not just the demolitions but the humiliation - branding an entire community with insulting terms like 'Miya' and 'Doubtful',” he said. While he acknowledged the government’s right to deport foreigners, he insisted that “Indian citizens who have been uprooted must be rehabilitated.” Madani called for any eviction to follow Supreme Court guidelines with “basic human compassion.”
He also touched on the shared cultural heritage of Assam, noting, “Assam has always been a cradle of diverse traditions shaped by figures like Shankar Dev and Azan Faqir. If the Namghar is harmed, the mosque too will not remain safe. Protecting both is our shared responsibility.” This appeal for unity and mutual respect resonated with many observers, but not everyone welcomed Madani’s intervention.
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, responded with a sharp rebuke. According to ANI, Sarma dismissed Madani’s authority, stating, “Who is Madani? Is Madani God? Madani's bravery exists if there is Congress. There is no evidence of Madani's bravery during the BJP's time. If he does too much, I will send Madani to jail. I am the CM, not Madani.” Sarma also announced that police would keep a close watch on the seven-member Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind delegation in Goalpara district, citing the sensitive situation and the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Region elections. In a post on X, he reiterated, “A delegation of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is presently visiting Goalpara district, Assam. Considering the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) elections and the sensitive situation in the district, the Assam police will continue to maintain strict monitoring to ensure peace and stability.”
This clash of perspectives underscores a broader debate about the treatment of minorities and the rule of law in Assam. While Madani’s call for compassion and legal adherence finds support among civil society groups, the state government’s tough stance reflects its determination to maintain order and assert control, especially in the face of what it sees as outside interference.
Meanwhile, another controversy has been brewing in Assam’s hill districts. On the evening of September 2, 2025, six villagers from Dima Hasao were reportedly arrested without warrant after opposing the allotment of 3,000 bighas of tribal land in Nobdi Longkukro village to Mahabali Cement Company. This action, which occurred just hours before a crucial hearing in the Gauhati High Court, has been denounced by the opposition Congress party as an act of political vendetta and a flagrant suppression of democratic rights.
Congress leader Bapujit Langthasa did not mince words. As reported by India Today, he accused the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council’s Land and Revenue Department of “illegally and unethically” handing over tribal land to a private company. “Three of those arrested are petitioners. This is not just an attack on them; it is an attack on justice itself. The BJP-backed council wants to silence the voices of the poor and protect the interests of a private company,” Langthasa told reporters. He warned that police would be held directly responsible if any harm came to the detainees.
Langthasa further alleged that council members and revenue officials had been pressuring villagers to withdraw their case from the Gauhati High Court. “This is a calculated conspiracy to stop the petitioners from appearing before the High Court. The arrests are nothing but a crude attempt to subvert the judicial process,” he declared. The matter, he added, has already been escalated to the Congress high command.
The land dispute, simmering since 2024, has exposed what the opposition calls the “dark nexus of money, muscle, and political power” in Assam’s tribal heartland. Villagers claim they were tricked into surrendering their ancestral land for meagre compensation, while council officials allegedly pocketed large sums. When protests erupted, allegations surfaced that a BJP-aligned council executive even opened fire to intimidate demonstrators—though those charges have been denied by the accused.
The legal dimension of the case is equally significant. The Gauhati High Court has expressed shock at the allocation of nearly 3,000 bighas—virtually an entire district—to a private company in a Sixth Schedule area, where tribal land rights are supposed to be protected. This judicial scrutiny has only heightened political tensions, with Congress framing the arrests as part of a broader pattern of authoritarianism under the BJP. “This government has no respect for law, no respect for people’s rights, and no respect for the Constitution. It will bulldoze tribal land for corporate interests and muzzle dissenters in the process. But we will not let this pass,” Langthasa declared.
For the embattled villagers of Dima Hasao, the arrests have transformed a local land dispute into a political flashpoint. For the Congress party, the incident has provided fresh ammunition in its ongoing battle against what it sees as the BJP’s heavy-handed governance model in Assam’s tribal regions.
Together, these two crises—one rooted in questions of minority rights, the other in the defense of tribal land—highlight the complexities and contradictions at the heart of Assam’s current political moment. As the state heads toward key elections and faces mounting legal scrutiny, the eyes of the nation are fixed on how its leaders will balance development, justice, and the fundamental rights of its people.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Assam’s government can chart a path that respects both order and compassion, or whether the state’s deepening divides will continue to fuel controversy and unrest.
