Guwahati: Upamanyu Hazarika of the Anti-Immigration Forum has raised objections to the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Act, 2026, passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly. In a press statement issued on September 12, Hazarika alleged that the amendment could result in people of East Bengal origin being treated as indigenous residents and could undermine the stated objective of protecting sattra land.

Allegations Over the Impact of the Law

According to the press statement, government data has indicated that at least 15,288 bighas of sattra land are under encroachment. The statement particularly refers to sattra land in Barpeta and Nagaon districts.

Hazarika alleged that instead of helping free encroached sattra land, the amendment could provide protection to people of East Bengal origin by treating them as indigenous residents.

Objection to the Definition of Indigenous Residents

The statement says the amended provisions define an indigenous resident based on three generations of residence in a particular area of Assam.

It further claims that three categories of residents have been included for the purpose of regulating residence within a five-kilometre radius of protected historical sites and sattras.

The categories mentioned in the statement include indigenous residents, indigenous communities and backward classes. It names Moran, Motok, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi and Ahom communities among the indigenous communities, while tea community people are mentioned under the backward class category.

Reference to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord

Hazarika argued that the definition of indigenous residents under the amendment is inconsistent with the objective of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

According to his statement, Clause 6 was intended to provide safeguards for the land, employment and resources of Assam’s indigenous people.

The statement also refers to recommendations made in 2015, the Harishankar Brahma Committee in 2017, and the Clause 6 Committee in 2020 regarding protection of land, resources and employment for indigenous residents.

Demand for NRC Re-verification

Hazarika has renewed his demand for re-verification of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

He argued that a properly re-verified NRC based on the 1951 base year could establish a list of citizens residing in Assam in 1951 and their subsequent generations, which he said could form the basis for safeguards relating to land, resources and employment.

The statement also claims that the NRC was intended to identify migrants who entered Assam from Bangladesh and calls for re-verification to identify foreign nationals.

Claims Regarding Deportation

The press statement refers to government figures that allegedly show 1,689 foreign nationals were deported between 2024 and 2026.

It also cites a claim that Assam had 8 million Bangladeshis in 2016 and refers to 1,965,657 people being excluded from the NRC. The press statement, however, does not attach separate supporting documents for these figures.

Campaign to Continue

The Anti-Immigration Forum has announced that it will continue its campaign for NRC re-verification and what it describes as a proper NRC.

Hazarika also said in the statement that he has permanently shifted from Delhi to Guwahati and will continue his legal profession in Assam while intensifying the campaign.

The above allegations and figures are based on the press statement issued by Upamanyu Hazarika and the Anti-Immigration Forum.