Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken a sharp swipe at well-known social activist and environmentalist Medha Patkar over her reported remarks on eviction drives in the state. Speaking strongly on the issue of land rights and illegal encroachments, the Chief Minister said that if Medha Patkar believes there should be no evictions in Assam, then the government would go ahead and demolish two more houses to prove its point.
“If Medha Patkar says that there should be no evictions, we will demolish two more houses,” Sarma said during an interaction. “Our land, our people, our identity — Medha Patkar does not understand who is taking away our land. She does not understand what we are going through. Only we know the pain, not Medha Patkar.”
The Chief Minister further said that protecting Assam’s land, culture, and traditions is a responsibility that lies with the people of the state and not with outsiders who have little understanding of the region’s challenges. “Our land, our culture, our traditions — does Medha Patkar understand that? No, she doesn’t. We are the ones who know what kind of pressure our people face. We have to protect what belongs to us,” Sarma said. 
He said that those who do not live the local reality cannot understand the emotional and cultural significance of land to the Assamese people.
Earlier in the day, Medha Patkar — who is best known for her decades-long work with the Narmada Bachao Andolan — had expressed deep sorrow over the sudden death of celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore. Calling it a loss not just for Assam but for the entire country, Patkar said the whole Assamese community is in mourning after the passing of an artist who stood for unity and humanity above caste and religion.
“Zubeen Garg was more than a singer. He was an artist who cared for people. He believed in dharma and karma and lived among the people. He always stood with those in need,” Patkar said. She also noted that Zubeen’s vast contribution to music, with over 40,000 songs, will remain in the hearts of people forever.
Patkar further called for a fair and transparent investigation into Zubeen Garg’s death, urging authorities to include both the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure impartiality. “It is very sad that this happened. The investigation should be without bias. Only then will people have confidence in the results,” she said.
