Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (June 27, 2025) alleged that the previous Congress government's appeasement of illegal immigrants led to massive encroachment of more than 13,000 bighas (more than 4,300 acres) of 'Satra' (Vaishnavite monastery) land in the State.
He affirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) ruling dispensation's commitment to reclaim the land for these Vaishnavite monasteries.
"The Congress Govt ignored sentiments of the indigenous people while pandering to their illegal immigrant vote bank, which led to 922 Satra lands being encroached upon," Mr. Sarma said in a post on X.
He said thousands of bighas of Satra land have been encroached across major centres, including 7,137 bighas (2,355.21 acres) in Barpeta, 2,583.79 bighas (852.66 acres) in Nagaon, 2,757.39 bighas 909.94 acres) in Bajali and 896.76 bighas (295.94 acres) in Lakhimpur. "We are on a mission to reclaim them," the Chief Minister asserted.
Mr. Sarma had earlier this month announced that the government will set up a permanent 'Satra Aayog' to look after the welfare of these Vaishnavite monasteries located across the State.
