Encouragement of Infiltration by Bengal's State Government
Home Minister Amit Shah recently sparked controversy by accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of promoting the illegal influx of Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims into West Bengal. Shah's comments, made at a Kolkata event on October 27, highlighted what he described as “state-sponsored infiltration.” In response, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) argued that the Border Security Force (BSF) alone should be held accountable for failing to stop cross-border entry. However, while the BSF indeed oversees border security, the state government, including the Bengal police, plays a significant role in preventing illegal entries within its territory.
The Vote Bank Strategy and Demographic Shifts
The Banerjee administration allegedly facilitates the influx of Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims by providing citizenship documents, thereby securing a loyal vote bank. The influx has contributed to a significant rise in Bengal's Muslim population over the years, growing at a pace far surpassing natural rates. Population data reveal a dramatic increase in the Muslim population since 1951, with recent estimates suggesting Muslims comprise around 31% of Bengal’s population. Such abnormal growth is closely linked to unchecked infiltration, which various political parties, including Congress and the Left Front, have leveraged to expand their influence. The TMC now appears to be following this trend, using the demographic shift to cement its political power.
State Machinery’s Role: Not Just the BSF’s Responsibility
Although the BSF’s mandate is to secure the Indo-Bangladesh border, guarding every inch of the extensive and varied terrain is challenging. Large stretches of the border are fenced, yet smugglers and traffickers frequently find ways to breach the fence or navigate riverine areas where fencing is impossible. Even sophisticated borders, like the U.S.-Mexico boundary, are routinely breached, highlighting that no border security can be entirely foolproof.
However, the steady flow of illegal migrants into Bengal owes much to a welcoming attitude from local authorities. Elected officials in border regions, aided by Bengal police, reportedly assist infiltrators in obtaining fake documents, such as birth and residency certificates. These documents enable illegal entrants to procure further identification like ration and voter ID cards, facilitated by lower-level government functionaries influenced by political interests. Consequently, infiltrators find refuge in Bengal not only due to border vulnerabilities but also due to a favorable state machinery operating under TMC’s influence.
Comparisons with Assam and Tripura: Contrasting Outcomes
In contrast to Bengal, states like Assam and Tripura have actively curbed illegal migration through stringent enforcement. Both states' police forces, backed by BJP-led governments, have consistently intercepted Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants. For example, in October alone, Assam and Tripura authorities, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), arrested over 300 illegal infiltrators. This outcome reflects directives from their state governments to proactively target illegal migration.
Since the BJP assumed power in Assam and Tripura, migration flows into these states have reportedly declined sharply. The vigilance has made Bangladeshis and Rohingyas less inclined to enter these areas, as they are unable to obtain citizenship documents and face tighter scrutiny. Instead, many migrants seek refuge in Bengal, where they know they can secure a more accommodating environment.
Trinamool's Accountability Amid Blame Shifting
The Trinamool Congress's attempt to lay blame solely on the BSF does not address the broader systemic encouragement of illegal migration within Bengal. TMC’s approach has drawn widespread criticism, as evidence suggests that state machinery actively facilitates this influx to secure political advantages. By welcoming Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims and ensuring they receive necessary documents, the ruling party in Bengal has created conditions conducive to largescale illegal immigration, a situation that contrasts sharply with the tighter controls seen in Assam and Tripura
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