Himanta Biswa Sarma understands the assignment. Border states are crucial in the construction of a certain vision of nationalism, security and identity, and as the chief minister of Assam, Sarma knows his role in articulating that vision, and demonstrating why Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party are needed to protect it. “Infiltration from Bangladesh started in Assam 40 years ago,” Sarma said, at a press conference in Jharkhand on 15 May. “Now in Assam, the infiltrators’ number is 1.25 crore. This has become a big problem and Assamese people have lost their identity. We made a mistake 40 years ago, we didn’t protect our borders. You don’t let Rohingyas come in.” Sarma’s speech was riddled with lies, communal rhetoric and fear mongering. He claimed that “infiltrators” had become ministers, speakers, and magistrates, and occupied up to 40 seats in the Assam assembly. “We are now fighting for our existence,”…

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