Activist Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, a former member of the Planning Commission during the Manmohan Singh–led Congress government, said that Bangladeshis have the right to live in India. She made this statement during a visit to Assam, at a time when the state government is evicting illegal encroachers from government land and pushing back illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Her remarks came directly in the context of these ongoing drives.

Syeda Hameed is visiting Assam as part of a team that includes well-known activists such as Prashant Bhushan, Harsh Mander, and Jawahar Sircar. While speaking to reporters, she argued that the Assam government has brought doom upon Muslims in Assam by accusing them of being Bangladeshis. In her words, “What is wrong if they are Bangladeshis? Bangladeshis are also humans. Earth is so large, Bangladeshis can live here. Not depriving anyone’s rights.” She further said that claiming illegal immigrants are depriving legal citizens of their rights is very very troublesome, extremely mischievous and very detrimental to humanity.

She also gave a religious framing to her stand. Syeda Hameed said, “Allah has made this earth for humans, not for devils, if a person is standing on earth, to evict them is quamat on Muslims.” She called for everyone to stand together for the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb and the composite culture of India, presenting this as a shared civilisational value.

At the same time, she acknowledged that the Assam government is deporting illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Alongside her, Prashant Bhushan alleged that Indian Muslims are being sent to Bangladesh. He asserted, “It is clear that the Assam government of Himanta Biswa Sarma is engaged in every kind of lawless and illegal activity, particularly illegally pushing out citizens to Bangladesh and outside this country, illegally evicting people from their land and demolishing their homes.” According to Bhushan, their team came to speak with local people to understand what is happening on the ground, but they were stopped from visiting Goalpara district, where evictions have taken place from forest land.

The team’s visit was organised by Asom Nagarik Sanmilan. Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, associated with the forum, said they invite eminent personalities from outside to deliver talks and present their views on recent developments. This is how the delegation, including Syeda Hameed, came to be in Assam. 

Responding to the visit, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, after Jamaat-e-Hind’s public demand for his dismissal a day earlier, a Delhi-based team had arrived and was camping in Assam. He named Harsh Mander, Wajahat Habibullah, Fayaz Shaheen, Prashant Bhushan, and Jawahar Sircar as part of the group. He stated that their only goal was to present lawful evictions as a humanitarian crisis and described it as a coordinated effort to weaken the fight against illegal encroachers. In his words, “Their sole aim is to paint the lawful evictions as so-called ‘humanitarian crisis.’ This is nothing but a planned attempt to weaken our fight against illegal encroachers. We are alert and firm — no propaganda or pressure will stop us from protecting our land and culture.” 

The Chief Minister’s statement above is central to the charge that such interventions weaken the state’s action against illegal encroachment. It also underscores the political tension around the visit and the remarks made by Syeda Hameed and others.

Rijiju criticises ex-Planning Commission member over remarks on Bangladeshis in Assam

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly criticised activist and former Planning Commission member Syeda Saiyidain Hameed for suggesting that Bangladesh nationals have a right to live in Assam. Posting on social media in response to her video, Rijiju called her position “misleading in the name of humanity” and said it undermines India’s land and identity.

Quoting her video, Rijiju wrote: “Misleading in the name of humanity. It’s about our land and identity. Why the minority Buddhists, Christians, Hindus & Sikhs in Bangladesh and Pakistan are persecuted & tortured? Sayeda Hameed may be closest to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi but shouldn't support illegal immigrants.” His response linked her comment to issues of persecution of minorities in neighbouring countries and warned against normalising illegality.

Rijiju reacted after a clip went viral in which Syeda Hameed, who served as a Planning Commission member during the UPA government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, claimed that “Bangladeshis are humans too and have a right to live in India” during her Assam visit. The controversy built around the same set of remarks she had made publicly.

During her visit amid eviction drives and actions against illegal immigrants, Hameed reiterated, “What is wrong if they are Bangladeshis? Bangladeshis are also humans. Earth is so large, Bangladeshis can live here. Not depriving anyone’s rights.” She added a faith-based argument: “Allah has made this earth for humans, not for devils. If a person is standing on earth, to evict them is qayamat (apocalypse) for Muslims.” She accused the Assam government of bringing doom upon Muslims by labelling them as Bangladesh nationals and said that claims about illegal immigrants depriving Indians of rights are “extremely mischievous and detrimental to humanity.”

Rijiju said this is an attempt to normalise illegal immigration, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also criticised efforts that support illegal encroachment. Repeating his stand, the Chief Minister posted that there is a planned attempt to weaken the fight against illegal encroachers, and that the state would continue to protect its land and culture despite pressure. He specifically listed Harsh Mander, Wajahat Habibullah, Fayaz Shaheen, Prashant Bhushan, and Jawahar Sircar as the visiting team, and linked their presence to attempts to recast lawful evictions as a humanitarian crisis.

Finally, Sarma wrote on social media: “After Jamaat-e-Hind’s outburst demanding my dismissal yesterday, a Delhi-based team — Harsh Mander, Wajahat Habibullah, Fayaz Shaheen, Prashant Bhushan, and Jawahar Sircar — is now camping in Assam. Their sole aim is to paint the lawful evictions as so-called ‘humanitarian crisis’. This is nothing but a planned attempt to weaken our fight against illegal encroachers. We are alert and firm — no propaganda or pressure will stop us from protecting our land and culture.” This statement directly frames the controversy as part of a larger tussle over illegal encroachment and state action.

Outrage in Assam over Syeda Hameed’s Comments on Bangladeshis

The controversy over Syeda Saiyidain Hameed’s remarks deepened further as her statements drew sharp criticism from both the Assam government and civil society groups. During her visit to the state, Hameed had reiterated her view by saying, “To say that (they are) depriving the rights of others is troublesome, extremely mischievous and detrimental to humanity. God has created this earth for humans.” Her comments, made at a time when eviction drives against illegal encroachers are ongoing, immediately triggered outrage across Assam.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded strongly to her stand. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he accused her of undermining Assamese identity and supporting infiltration. In his words, “People like Syeda Hameed, a close confidant of the Gandhi family, legitimise illegal infiltrators, as they seek of to realise Jinnah's dream of making Assam a part of Pakistan. Today, Assamese identity is on the brink of extinction because of the tacit support of people like her.”

Sarma went further in his post by making a direct appeal to the people of Assam, invoking the memory of the 17th-century Ahom general Lachit Barphukan. He declared, “But we are the sons and daughters of Lachit Barphukan, WE WILL FIGHT till the last drop of our blood to save our State and our identity. Let me make it very clear, Bangladeshis are not welcome in Assam, it is not their land. Anyone sympathising with them may accommodate them in their own backyards. Assam is not up for grabs by illegal infiltrators, NOT NOW, NOT EVER.” His statement underscored the determination of the state government to continue its drive against illegal migrants.

Adding to the criticism, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which led the historic Assam Agitation of the 1980s, warned Syeda Hameed against making such remarks. The organisation described her statements as both anti-Assam and anti-India. AASU president Utpal Sarma expressed shock, saying, “She clearly stated that it is not a crime for the Bangladeshis to live in Assam. No sensible person can make such a bizarre statement.” He further emphasised that her claim that “Bangladeshis have not deprived the people of Assam of their rights” was an insult to the 860 martyrs of the Assam Agitation, who sacrificed their lives in the struggle to protect the state from unchecked migration.

Utpal Sarma also pointed out the long-term demographic consequences of illegal migration. He said that the large-scale entry of Bangladeshis had already changed the population balance in many districts of Assam, pushing indigenous communities into a minority status. According to him, this demographic shift has had a direct impact on culture and livelihood. He warned, “Our language and economy are facing a threat. We are steadily losing our political rights. These are not our concerns alone. The Gauhati High Court said Bangladeshis enrolled themselves in the voters’ list and they have become the kingmaker.”