PM Modi hails Assam Movement’s ‘historic courage’ on Swahid Diwas

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday observed Swahid Diwas by honouring the martyrs of the Assam Movement.

He said their sacrifices hold a defining place in India’s history and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to promoting Assam’s cultural identity and overall development.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote that Swahid Diwas is a reminder of the courage shown by everyone who took part in the Assam Movement. He added that the government remains committed to fulfilling the aspirations of those who fought to protect Assam’s identity and ensure the state’s all-around progress.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also paid homage to the martyrs, calling the Assam Movement a “monumental struggle” to safeguard the state’s language, culture, demographic identity, and very existence. He said the movement united the Assamese people with a shared sense of national responsibility.

Sonowal recalled that 860 people lost their lives during the agitation, while many others endured persecution and permanent injuries while defending the motherland. He described Swahid Diwas as a solemn occasion to honour their sacrifices, adding that the movement continues to symbolize courage, national consciousness, and the unshakeable resolve of the Assamese people.

Swahid Diwas is observed every year on December 10 to remember those who laid down their lives during the Assam Movement. The civil disobedience movement, launched in 1979 by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP), sought action against illegal immigrants entering Assam from Bangladesh.

The agitation concluded in 1985 with the signing of the historic Assam Accord between the leaders of the movement and then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The accord promised the detection of illegal foreigners and guaranteed Constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, and linguistic identity of the Assamese people.