In the year 2016, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Rajya Sabha that there are around 2 crore illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who are living in the country.
Prior to 2014, the government had said in 2004 that the number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh was 1.2 crore. This suggests that between 2004 and 2016 the number increased by a whopping 67 per cent.
It has been eight years since the statistics were provided, but the problem still persists, and the numbers could be easily higher today.
Why is it significant
The issue relating to illegal immigration gains significance today considering the events in Bangladesh. The country is in turmoil and there is lawlessness everywhere. This makes it a perfect situation for the touts to send more migrants into Bharat and attempt to change the demographics further.
While the problem relating to illegal immigration from Bangladesh has persisted since 1972, it becomes even more grave today because of the situation that Bangladesh is in.
During the regime of Sheikh Hasina, the problem did exist, but New Delhi had at least a friendly government in Dhaka to take stock of the situation. Today Dhaka and Delhi are clearly not in the best of terms, and this makes holding talks on such issues challenging.
As Bangladesh watchers would put it. The ties between India and Bangladesh are similar to the one we have with Islamabad.
The ouster of Sheikh Hasina has gradually led to a collapse in the system in Bangladesh. In fact it has become the perfect playground for the ISI to play the Islam card and use the people in the country to carry out nefarious activities.
While New Delhi would not be able to do much on the diplomatic front for now, it can however ensure that the maximum number of illegal immigrants are stopped at the border. More deportations would also held the security apparatus of the country.
More than what meets the eye
For years the Intelligence agencies have warned about this lurking danger. However, many people, particularly the Left continued to romanticise the problem. They termed it as poor people coming in search of food and shelter.
An Intelligence Bureau official argues that the problem is that the issue was completely pushed under the carpet. While it is true that some come in search of a livelihood that number is a mere 1 per cent. The remaining have been sent to the country with a specific agenda, the official also adds.
The ISI has for years schemed with the DGFI to increase the number of illegal immigrants. The DGFI has in turn used the Jamaat-e-Islami to further this agenda. The idea is to change the demography of areas that are Hindu dominant. When in such areas illegal Muslim immigrants outnumber the Hindus there is bound to be communal tensions. This is exactly what the ISI wants.
One has witnessed incidents in West Bengal where tensions have flared up due to change in demographics. Take the case of Murshidabad. The illegal immigrants are so large in number that they have overpowered the Hindus. The Intelligence agencies had even picked up inputs which said that these Muslim immigrants were planning to declare Murshidabad independent from Bharat. This was on the lines of what the separatists in Jammu and Kashmir were trying.
Urgency is the need of the hour
During the various review meetings, officials have been told to act with a sense of urgency. The situation could turn bad very soon and can well go beyond control.
In today’s scenario, it would not be sufficient to just stop the flow of illegal immigrants. The need of the hour is also to deport them in large numbers. If the scenario does not change soon, then there would be terrible implications for Bharat on the economic, social and security front.
The touts from Bangladesh will continue to push their agenda hard with the sole intention of changing the demographics so that the local population feels overwhelmed by these illegal immigrants.
Further there is also an urgent need for an amendment of the Indian legislation and the introduction of a national refugee law. In this a distinction should be made between refugees who obtain a resident permit and illegal persons who receive a decision to return.
Crimmigration is the merger between the laws on migration and criminal law. This could come in handy if used to solve this problem. If used effectively this could be used to deport illegal immigrants on the ground that they pose a threat to national security. This would also be applicable to those violating the laws of immigration.
In addition to this strengthening the borders is very important. More investment in police control would also help.
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