Guwahati, July 13 (V7N) — The Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA), a nationalist citizens’ forum, has criticized sections of the media for using the term “Bengali-origin Muslim community” to describe individuals evicted during recent land clearance operations in Assam. The group argues that the term is vague and politically motivated, obscuring the historical roots of illegal migration from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
 
In a statement, the PPFA welcomed the Assam government's recent eviction drives, aimed at reclaiming land encroached over decades. However, the forum urged authorities to ensure lawful compensation for displaced families and stressed that the operations have broad support among the state’s indigenous communities.
 
The group further questioned why some media outlets avoid the terms “Bangladesh-origin” or “East Pakistan-origin” despite the historical context of migration into Assam, particularly during the British colonial period, post-Partition years, and after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
 
“Are they afraid of public backlash or deliberately trying to blur the truth?” the PPFA asked in its statement, asserting that Assamese society is neither weak nor naïve to manipulation.
 
The organization reiterated that accurate terminology is crucial for transparency and accountability, especially as demographic changes have long been a sensitive political issue in Assam.
 
No official response has yet been issued by the media organizations mentioned in the PPFA’s criticism.
 
END/NTG/SMA/