Muslims illiterate, bear more children: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi

September 9, 2012

New Delhi, September 9: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi kicked off a fresh controversy by blaming the high illiteracy level among the Muslims for their growing population in the state.

Speaking to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate, the Chief Minister said Muslims are outnumbering Hindus in Assam not because of the increase in illegal migration from Bangladesh but because Muslims are illiterate and create more children.

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Karan Thapar: Assam may have grown at a lower rate than the nation as a whole, but within Assam the Muslim population in some districts has grown much faster than the Hindu's.

Let me quote some of the figures. In Kokhrajhar, 19 per cent Muslim increase, 5 per cent Hindu, in Dubri 29 per cent Muslim increase, 5 per cent Hindu, in Bongaigaon 31 per cent Muslim increase, 2 per cent Hindu. Clearly this phenomenal increase in Muslim population can't be for natural reasons, it has to be because of immigration.

Tarun Gogoi: It is because of low literacy, illiteracy. Illiteracy is there, most of the Muslims are illiterates. Every family has six, seven, eight, nine, 10 members. It is because of illiteracy.

Karan Thapar: You seriously are saying that the Muslims population is increasing because they are illiterate and creating more children than Hindus?

Tarun Gogoi: Ya.

Karan Thapar: You really mean that?

Tarun Gogoi: Yes, it is because of illiteracy.

Karan Thapar: This is a very controversial answer Chief Minister. People would say this tantamount to saying that the illiterate breed more.

Tarun Gogoi: Yes, 100 per cent I believe.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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