The Aryavarth Express
Guwahati (Assam): On the occasion of Swahid Diwas, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday appealed to the people of the state to refrain from employing or selling land to “unknown people.” He made the remarks while inaugurating the Swahid Smarak at Boragaon, Guwahati, built in memory of those who lost their lives during the Assam Movement.
Sarma said the memorial honours the “martyrs” who resisted the influx of infiltrators entering Assam from Bangladesh in 1979. “We laid the foundation stone of Jatiya Swahid Smarak on December 10, 2019, when Sarbananda Sonowal was Chief Minister. Today, we have dedicated a beautiful Swahid Smarak in memory of the martyrs of the Assam Movement,” he said.
Calling December 10 a “holy day,” the Chief Minister urged citizens to remain cautious. “I request the people of Assam and the country not to sell your land to unknown people. Don’t employ unknown individuals in your industries or business establishments, and don’t bring unknown people to cultivate your land,” he said.
Sarma also highlighted ongoing developmental plans in the area, including a 500-seat auditorium under construction and his vision for a digital library documenting the Assam Movement and Assamese history.
According to him, the Swahid Smarak and Swahid Stamba have been constructed at a cost of ₹170 crore on over 150 bighas of land at Pachim Boragaon.
The event was attended by Union Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, several Assam Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, senior officials, and leaders of AASU including Chief Adviser Dr. Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharjya.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to those who participated in the Assam Movement, calling their contributions “defining” in India’s history. In a post on X, he reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to advancing Assam’s cultural and developmental goals.
Swahid Diwas, observed annually on December 10, commemorates the martyrs of the Assam Movement—a mass agitation launched in 1979 by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) against illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. The movement concluded with the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985 under then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, ensuring measures to detect illegal foreigners and safeguard Assamese identity and heritage.
