New Delhi: Vowing to protect the civilisation, heritage and rights of the people of Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, if voted to power again.
In addition to this, the party has also promised to formulate “an effective Act to end the menace of love lihad and take firm measures to tackle the menace of land jihad”. The BJP-ruled state of Uttarakhand became the first state to implement UCC with Gujarat passing a Bill on the same recently.
Elections to 126 assembly constituencies in Assam will be held on 9 April, with counting on 4 May.
Apart from the UCC, the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ that makes note of a total of 31 promises, mentions the recovery of encroached land from ‘Bangladeshi Miyas’, and ensuring the development of the state, employment opportunities for youths and making Assam flood-free. Bangladeshi ‘Miyas’ is a pejorative term for Bengali-speaking Muslims. The chief minister has for long been saying that the state needs to be rid of them.
The party released its ‘Sankalp Patra’ (manifesto) for the 2026 Assam assembly elections in Guwahati.
Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state party president Dilip Saikia, Assam BJP in-charge Baijayant Panda and others were present at the ceremony.
“We will strengthen the legislative protections to preserve the civilisation, heritage and rights of the people of Assam by: Working towards the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), excluding the 6th Schedule areas and tribals, while ensuring the traditional rights of ethnic communities. Formulating an effective Act to end the menace of Love Jihad. Taking firm measures to tackle the menace of Land Jihad,” reads the manifesto. The party has also promised two lakh jobs in the state.
The ‘Sankalp Patra’ of the party states that it will protect the land, heritage and dignity of the indigenous people of Assam by “implementing the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, to expedite the process of detection and pushback of illegal immigrants. Freeing every inch of land from encroachment by illegal immigrants. Providing land rights to all genuine citizens of Assam under Mission Basundhara Freeing the remaining encroached lands of Satras, Namghars, and other places of worship and cultural heritage”.
The issue of illegal immigrants has become a focal point of BJP’s election manifesto with BJP Lok Sabha MP and Assam in-charge Baijayant Panda defending Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s stand on “illegal immigrants”, saying they were an “assault on Assamese culture” and had “invaded” the state.
The party has also been critical of the demographic changes that it says has taken place in the state over a period of time through ‘invasion’. Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed on the fact that the state is at peace because of the stability brought about by the BJP government.
“Everything that you do depends on stability and peace that prevails in the state. Assam today is at peace. Assam continues to show peace is sustainable. And that’s what is the biggest achievement, I would think. There are a lot to speak about, but 2007 alone, under Congress, 474 incidents of attacks, 287 civilians died, and before that also every year something. Assam’s people, 128 of them died every year for 10 years. But look at the change which has happened now,” said Sitharaman.
“In 2016, after this government took charge, immediately from 128 deaths per year, it was brought down to 99. In 2018, 14 civilians died. But between 2019 and 2023-24, zero deaths. That’s the achievement of this government. The dividend that you get of maintaining peace. Human lives are saved.”
Sarma also announced that BJP aims to generate two lakh jobs over the next five years. He also spoke about a major financial commitment towards tackling Assam’s recurring flood crisis. “We will try to make Assam flood-free and, in the first two years, we will spend Rs 18,000 crore,” Sarma said.
The manifesto also highlights welfare schemes. The party has promised to provide Rs 25,000 as financial assistance in the second phase to existing beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Scheme, while expanding its reach to create 40 lakh “Lakhpati Baideos”.
Sarma also announced a proposed increase in monthly financial support under the Orunodoi scheme, from Rs 1,250 to Rs 3,000, which will expand the coverage to an additional 15 lakh households.
The party has also promised to launch “a dedicated Assamese OTT platform to preserve and showcase Assamese cinema, literature, folk songs, music and documentaries”.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)