Scenes of Gaza in Assam: Worshippers Pray Amid the Ruins of a Mosque
Recent eviction drives by the government of Assam Chief Minister Mr. Himanta Biswa Sarma have not only left people homeless but also resulted in the demolition of mosques and madrasas. Following an eviction operation in the Alamganj-Rangamati area of Dhubri district, local Muslims have been offering prayers amid the rubble. Images of worshippers gathering on the bricks, concrete slabs and broken walls of a demolished mosque to perform their prayers have brought to mind the tragic scenes in Gaza, Palestine.
The eviction drive, which began on November 1, has caused widespread destruction in different parts of the state. More than 50 bulldozers and excavators were deployed to clear around 650 bighas of land. As a result, the last shelters of at least 750 families were demolished, leaving more than 4,000 people homeless. An adjoining madrasa was also demolished. The eviction drive, which has particularly targeted Bengali-speaking Muslim communities, has raised serious concerns over human rights and the protection of religious sites.
A hearing on the demolitions and eviction drive is scheduled to take place at the Gauhati High Court on November 13. Meanwhile, a protest rally has been called in India’s capital, New Delhi, on November 14 against what organisers describe as injustice.
As part of the ongoing eviction drive across the state, several concrete houses were demolished using JCB excavators in Lakhimpur on November 8. After the eviction, Chief Minister Mr. Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a video on social media showing a Muslim man standing helplessly amid the destruction. He described the operation as ‘Ghar Ki Safai’ (cleaning the house) ahead of Diwali.
The chief minister’s remarks have drawn strong criticism from various political leaders and rights activists. Congress MP Dr. Mohammad Javed wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “No one in power is permanent, and no position lasts forever. But the scars of oppression inflicted on helpless and innocent people remain for generations.”
Former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu also strongly condemned the remarks, writing, “Diwali symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Yet, even on Diwali, this chief minister’s mind is filled with hatred, darkness and hostility as he uses his power against the most helpless and marginalised people.”
Other social media users have also strongly protested what they described as extremist and provocative remarks by an elected chief minister in Assam. Many have compared these incidents to the destruction of civilian homes and mosques by Israeli forces in Gaza, where displaced and oppressed people have been offering prayers amid the rubble and bowing before their Creator.
