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Published: 10th March 2018 10:00 PM |
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Updated: 10th March 2018 10:32 AM | A+A A- |
Army
Chief, General Bipin Rawat, rubbed the raw nerves of the political, social and
religious hypocrites when he argued recently that the influx of Bangladeshi
migrants had substantially altered the demography of Assam and other states in
the northeast. While Hindu population in the state went up by 41.8 per cent,
Muslims’ growth leaped by 77.42 per cent. Consequently, Hindus recorded a 3 per
cent increase in 18 Assembly constituencies, whereas Muslims registered a 23
per cent surge in 40 Assembly constituencies. In eight districts, Muslims have
already formed a majority. The AIUDF, a party that draws its support from
illegal migrants, has grown at a pace of 71 per cent, while the BJP, branded as
a Hindu party, has gained a miserly rise of 4 per cent in its cadre.
Yet, Hiteshwar Saikia, the Assam Congress
Chief Minister, had the compunction to declare in 1992 that there were no
illegal migrants in Assam. Tripura Chief Minister similarly denied presence of
any illegal migrant in his state. The Army Chief has attributed this numerical
disparity to a sinister plan, hatched by Pakistan and China, to infiltrate
Bangladeshi migrants in huge numbers and use them to keep the region boiling.
Centuries ago, Chankaya, the quintessential statesman, had dispatched hundreds
of his people to the neighbouring Vaishali to earn livelihood and operate as
his informers.
The Congress, CPI(M), TMC and
pseudo-secularists do not agree that Bangladeshi migrants pose any security
threat. They describe it as a right-wing rhetoric, and a divisive and pre-poll
propaganda by the BJP. The truth is, they are mortally scared of losing Muslim
votes. In 2004, the Union Minister of State for Home told Parliament that the
country had 1.2 crore illegal immigrants. Pity, he had to retract his statement
the next day.
India currently has over two crore illegal
migrants. Since 1992, their numbers have increased by 67 per cent at a yearly
growth rate of 4.8 per cent. West Bengal has close to 6.4 million. Its seven
bordering districts have registered a growth of 36 per cent, impacting the
electoral fortunes in 73 Assembly constituencies.
Three of these districts have more than 75
per cent Muslims, hailing mostly from Bangladesh. Thanks to the connivance of
CPI(M) in the past and TMC now, migrants easily manage to obtain residential
and voting rights. Mamata Banerjee even wants her district magistrates’ right
to grant citizenship to illegal migrants restored so that she can seal her
electoral triumph for all times to come.
Tripura’s case is no less worrying. Its
Muslim migrant population has gone up by 34 per cent over the years and stands
close to 1.3 million of a total population of five million. Most of them have
become Indian citizens with CPI(M) providing enabling documents. As a result,
the indigenous Tripuri tribals have been reduced to minority in their homeland.
Their anger was reflected in the CPI(M)’s rout in the recent elections.
The more enterprising migrants have fanned
out in all corners of India including Delhi (one million), Bihar (one million),
Kerala (2.8 million), Madhya Pradesh (1.5 million), Maharashtra (3 million) and
Karnataka (2.3 million). Colluding political parties have already started
providing them legitimacy to vote.
This huge mass of illegal migrants does not
belong to us. Their loyalty will always be suspect. They are also ripe material
for carrying out subversive activities. Scores of them have been caught
manufacturing bombs, printing and distributing counterfeit currency notes and
aiding Kashmiri terrorists, SIMI, ISI and ISIS. However, the majority is
content with earning their livelihood and waiting for an opportune time to
agitate for a greater Bangladesh, comprising bordering districts of Assam, West
Bengal, Bihar and Tripura.
But deporting two crore illegal migrants is a
huge challenge. Dhaka will never own them as its citizens. Any attempt to push
them back will be denounced as violation of human rights. Since the power to
detect and deport migrants, vests in the state governments, non-BJP states will
deport no one. Perhaps the best option is to make infiltration, extremely
hazardous but sadly, most BSF commanders habitually collude with migrants to
illegally earn extra money.
A strong presence of the Intelligence Bureau
and National Investigation Agency in the erring states may restraint BSF’s lust
for money and political parties’ hunger for votes. A message also needs to go
that illegal migrants will remain stateless forever. And, they will be punished
harshly should they violate Indian laws. Hopefully, the BJP, which now heads
the governments in Assam and Tripura, will confront the issue headlong and
start at least identifying and disfranchising Bangladeshi migrants in right
earnest.
Amar Bhushan
Former special secretary, Research and
Analysis Wing
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