Fact Check: Anti-migrant protests in Assam? No, videos show Moran community protest for ST status
Two videos showing massive torch-lit rallies are going viral on social media with claims that people from Assam are protesting in support of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and against illegal immigrants.
By - K Sherly Sharon
Claim:The videos show people in Assam protesting against illegal immigrants.
Fact:The claim is false. The videos show protests organised in the Tinsukia district of Assam, by the Moran community demanding inclusion in the Schedule Tribe (ST) list.
Hyderabad: Two video clips showing a massive crowd holding torches and raising slogans are going viral on social media. The videos are being circulated with the claim that they show Assamese people protesting the influx of illegal immigrants.
The viral claim also states that the protests are being held in support of ‘mass expulsion programme being carried out by the Assam government’ and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A video of the torch-lit protest was shared on X with the caption, “A sea of citizens in Assam took out a march against Bangladeshis ~ All are seen chanting in support of the MASS EVICTION drive run by Assam Govt. (sic)” (Archive)
Posts making similar claims can be seen here and here. (Archive 1 and Archive 2)
Another video of the supposed anti-migrant protest was shared by an X user with the caption, “The video is from Assam, the stronghold of infiltrators. This awareness among Hindus is a sign for the future that Assam will soon be freed from Bangladeshi infiltrators.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)
Post making similar claims can be seen here. (Archive)
Another X user shared the same video and wrote, “People of Assam stand firmly with our CM to protect our identity and culture, Miya infiltrators must be deported.” (Archive)
Post making a similar claim can be seen here. (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The videos show protests organised in the Tinsukia district of Assam, by the Moran community demanding inclusion in the Schedule Tribe (ST) list.
Clip 1
Using reverse image search of the viral video keyframes, we found extended versions of the viral video shared on Facebook by DY 365 on September 4. DY 365 is an Assamese-language news channel.
The caption reads, “A strong protest erupted in Kakopathar, Tinsukia, demanding tribal status for the Moran community… The protesters echoed the skies and air with anti-government slogans.”
The same video was also uploaded by another Assamese news channel, ‘Prag News’, on the same day. The caption stated, “Protest demanding tribal status for the Moran community. A massive procession of over 10,000 people in Kakopathar. A major protest rally by the Moran community’s organisations…”
Using this clue, we performed keyword searches and found a report published by TV9 Assam on September 5 with the title ‘Tinsukia trembles with protests: A massive rally by Moran organisations demanding Scheduled Tribe status.’
The report stated that the Moran community had protested in Kakopathar of Tinsukia district on September 4, demanding ST status for the community. This protest was reportedly organised by the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU) along with several other Moran community organisations.
Therefore, it is clear that clip 1 shows the protest conducted by the Moran community in Kakopathar on September 4, demanding inclusion in the ST list.
Clip 2
A reverse image search of the second video’s keywords led us to the same video shared on Instagram.
The video was posted on September 3 with the caption, “Talap in Tinsukia erupts over the demand for Scheduled Tribe status. A massive rally organised by the All Moran Students’ Union.”
NewsMeter spoke to Abhijit Chetia, vice-president of AMSU, regarding the viral videos.
Were the protests regarding anti-migrant sentiments?
He said that both the viral videos are from the protests conducted by AMSU in the Tinsukia district. He identified that the viral video 1 is from the protest in Kakopathar on September 4, and the viral video 2 is from the protest in Talap town on September 2.
When asked whether the protests were conducted against illegal immigrants, Abhijit said, “That is not true. We are protesting for our constitutional right to be included in the Scheduled Tribe list. The BJP made promises regarding this in 2014. It’s been over 10 years, and our Moran community still does not have the ST status.”
Responding to the viral claims that the protests were in support of the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Abhijit said, “We did not raise any slogans in support of the BJP or the Chief Minister. Our main priority is the ST status for the Moran community, which the BJP promised and failed to grant.”
Four massive protests have been organised by AMSU in Talap, Kakopathar, Margherita and Tinsukia town, since September. Abhijit has shared links to the AMSU Facebook page, where videos from the protests have been posted. The videos can be found here, here and here.
What was the issue students were protesting about?
An ETV Bharat report published on September 11 stated that the AMSU ST status as well as Sixth Schedule autonomy.
Quoting AMSU president Polindra Borah, the report stated, “PM Narendra Modi had assured that within 100 days of the BJP forming a government in Assam, ST status would be granted to the Moran community along with 5 other communities. But he has completely forgotten that promise.”
Borah further added, “BJP has already had two terms in Assam, 10 years of rule, yet the process has not moved forward. This is a fraudulent government. If ST status and Sixth Schedule autonomy are not granted before the 2026 elections, our agitation will only intensify further.”
The report also stated that, at the rally, AMSU General Secretary Jayakanta Moran accused the earlier Congress and Asom Gana Parishad governments of betraying the Morans on the same issue, no different from the BJP government now.
“Before he became PM, Narendra Modi, during one of his election rallies in Assam, had promised the status to the six communities…” stated a report published by The Indian Express on May 21, 2016. Many protests erupted in Assam over the years, demanding the inclusion of the Moran community in the ST list.
PM Modi to visit Assam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to arrive in Assam on September 14, for a two-day visit, to pay tribute to Bharat Ratna awardee Bhupen Hazarika and unveil projects worth over Rs 19,000 crore.
Therefore, it is clear that the viral videos do not show Assamese people rallying in support of the BJP government or protesting illegal immigrants in the State. The viral videos show a protest organised by the Moran community in Tinsukia of Assam demanding inclusion in the ST list.
