Amit Shah Critiques Political Parties for Viewing Illegal Immigrants as Vote Banks

Amit Shah's Remarks on Illegal Immigration

On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that certain political parties perceive illegal immigrants as a potential vote bank. He raised concerns about the lack of illegal crossings at the borders of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Shah made these comments while addressing a program titled ‘Illegal Immigration, Demographic Change, and Democracy,’ held in memory of Narendra Mohan, the former editor of a prominent newspaper.

He emphasized that illegal immigration is not merely a political issue but a national concern that poses a threat to democracy.

According to Shah, the opposition claims that it is the central government's responsibility to curb illegal immigration since the Border Security Force (BSF) operates under its jurisdiction. However, he pointed out that there are certain geographical areas along the border where fencing is not feasible.

He stated, 'The central government cannot tackle illegal immigration alone. State governments provide shelter to these immigrants because some parties see them as a vote bank.' Shah questioned how illegal immigration could be prevented if local authorities fail to identify individuals entering the country unlawfully.

He remarked that when someone cannot distinguish between a refugee and an illegal immigrant, they are deceiving themselves.

Shah referenced the 2011 census in Assam, which indicated a 29.6% growth rate in the Muslim population. He noted, 'Such growth is not possible without illegal immigration. In several districts of West Bengal, this growth rate reaches 40%, and in some border areas, it has soared to 70%. This is clear evidence of past illegal immigration.'

He further stated that some political parties have begun to view illegal immigrants as a vote bank, which is why they offer them refuge.

Shah concluded by highlighting that while Gujarat and Rajasthan share borders, illegal immigration does not occur there. He also mentioned a significant decline in the tribal population in Jharkhand, attributing it to illegal immigration from Bangladesh.