Assam to Push Back 'Foreigners' to BD, Says CM Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent announcement on identifying foreigners in the Indian state of Assam and ‘pushing’ them into Bangladesh has sparked a fresh controversy. He told the state assembly that people identified as foreigners will be sent back to Bangladesh directly and no legal approval will be required for this process.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made it clear in the assembly on June 9 that the state’s deputy commissioners (DCs) will be able to take a direct decision in this regard. He also said that an old law of 1950 has been re-enacted, the validity of which has been recognized by the Supreme Court of India.

Those who have been declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunal will also be sent back to Bangladesh following the same procedure. According to the Chief Minister, about 350 people have been ‘pushed’ into Bangladesh in the last few weeks based on the orders of the Foreigners Tribunal.

He also mentioned a historic verdict of the Supreme Court of India in October 2024. The five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had ruled that those who entered Assam after March 24, 1971, would not be considered citizens of India.

The verdict also clarified that there was no scope for any exemption or exception to be given to those who entered Assam after March 24, 1971. The court also declared the Push-In Act of 1950 valid and said that under this act, the district magistrates can push anyone they want without any legal process.