Guwahati, June 17 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday raised concerns over Aadhaar enrolment figures in certain districts of the state, claiming that the number of Aadhaar cards issued has exceeded the projected population in some areas, a development he described as a potential “demographic red flag” in the border state. In a post on the social media platform X, CM Sarma said that Aadhaar saturation in a few districts has crossed the 100 per cent mark, indicating that more Aadhaar cards have been issued than the estimated population of those districts.

“In certain districts of Assam, Aadhaar enrolment has surpassed the total population, which in a border state like ours, reeks of a larger demographic conspiracy,” the Chief Minister wrote. CM Sarma said the state government has already taken steps to prevent ineligible individuals from obtaining Aadhaar cards. According to him, restrictions have been imposed on the issuance of Aadhaar to persons above the age of 18 years. “To ensure no undeserving person acquires Aadhaar, we have placed restrictions on its issuance to people above 18 years,” he added.

The Chief Minister also shared a graphic highlighting what he termed as a “red flag”, stating that Aadhaar saturation above 100 per cent in certain districts effectively means that more Aadhaar numbers have been generated than the actual projected population. The remarks come amid the Assam government’s ongoing efforts to tighten scrutiny over identity documents and strengthen verification mechanisms, particularly in districts bordering Bangladesh.

The state government has repeatedly expressed concerns over illegal infiltration and demographic changes in border areas. Over the past few years, the Assam government has introduced several measures aimed at improving the verification process for issuance of government documents and welfare benefits. Officials have maintained that Aadhaar enrolment must be carried out in accordance with prescribed guidelines to ensure that only eligible residents receive the identity document. The latest statement by the Chief Minister is likely to trigger a fresh debate on population data, Aadhaar enrolment patterns and identity verification in Assam, especially in districts where enrolment figures have reportedly crossed the projected population benchmark.

--IANS