The Centre constituted a High-Level Committee under retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar to examine demographic changes allegedly caused by illegal immigration and other unnatural factors, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah stating the panel will also assess the need for a separate law.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the Centre’s newly constituted High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) will examine the issue of “artificial” demographic shifts caused by illegal immigration and other “unnatural causes,” and will also assess whether a separate law is required to address the issue.
Speaking at a public gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 340 crore, Shah said the committee would conduct a detailed study into demographic changes allegedly linked to illegal infiltration and would submit its report within one year.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had issued a notification announcing the formation of the committee under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar. According to the notification, the committee has been tasked with examining “extensive challenges” arising from demographic changes allegedly triggered by illegal immigration and related factors.
Referring to the committee’s mandate, Shah said:
“The high-powered committee will examine the causes behind the artificial demographic shifts that have occurred across the nation. It will deliberate on the remedial measures required, and, should the enactment of any specific legislation be necessary, it will address that requirement as well.”
The Home Minister stated that the Central government was committed to identifying and deporting all illegal immigrants from the country. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had decided to constitute the committee with the objective of tackling infiltration and ensuring demographic stability.
During his address, Shah strongly criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal over alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh. He claimed that the situation in the State had changed after the Assembly elections and asserted that the BJP now governs a major part of the country.
He said,
“Now, the Bharatiya Janata Party governs 80 per cent of the country’s landmass, and in the recently concluded elections in Bengal, Didi (Mamata Banerjee) suffered a complete rout,”
Shah further remarked that the BJP had expanded its political presence across regions connected by the Ganga river.
He said,
“From Uttarakhand to Gangasagar, along the entire course of the Ganga, the BJP had succeeded in ‘hoisting the saffron flag’,”
The Home Minister also referred to the BJP’s earlier promise to strengthen fencing along the India-Bangladesh border after coming to power in West Bengal. According to Shah, significant progress had been made in transferring land required for the border fencing project.
Praising West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Shah claimed that nearly 600 hectares of land had been handed over to the Border Security Force within seven days for fencing work. He further stated that 121 hectares of land in the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” had also been transferred to the Union government.
The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow strip of land that connects India’s northeastern States with the rest of the country and is considered strategically sensitive.
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Citing media reports, Shah claimed that some illegal infiltrators had already started returning to Bangladesh voluntarily.
He alleged,
“Whereas under Mamata’s regime, infiltrations used to occur daily,”
The Home Minister stated that detention centres had already been established in West Bengal, but clarified that the government preferred voluntary departure over criminal proceedings.
Shah said,
“If they leave of their own will, the Bengal government will not only refrain from filing any legal cases against them, but will also extend assistance to facilitate their departure,”
He further expressed hope that a large number of illegal immigrants would voluntarily leave before the commencement of any formal identification drive.
The Centre’s move to constitute the committee comes amid continuing political debate over illegal immigration, border security, citizenship issues and demographic changes in several border States. The committee is expected to examine the extent of demographic changes, assess their impact on governance and national security, and recommend administrative or legislative measures to address the issue.
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