Illegal Infiltration Driving Rise in Muslim Population, Claims Amit Shah at Public Lecture
Home Minister defends CAA, says BJP will identify and deport undocumented migrants who entered India for economic reasons.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has linked the rise in India’s Muslim population over the decades to illegal infiltration, stating that many undocumented migrants have entered the country from Bangladesh and Pakistan, particularly for economic reasons. He said the BJP government is committed to identifying such individuals, removing them from the voter rolls, and deporting them.
Speaking at the Narendra Mohan Memorial Lecture in Delhi, Shah addressed the theme “Infiltration, Demographic Change and Democracy.” He argued that a clear distinction must be made between refugees fleeing religious persecution and infiltrators who enter the country without valid reasons.
“Hindus who came from Pakistan or Bangladesh to protect their faith are refugees, not infiltrators,” Shah said, referring to the historical Nehru-Liaquat Agreement that allowed religious minorities to seek refuge in India.
However, he claimed that Muslims who migrated to India from these countries for economic or personal reasons do not fall under the refugee category and are instead considered illegal entrants.
Population Data and Concerns
Quoting census data, Shah noted the following changes in the Muslim population share over the years:
- 1951: 8.9%
- 1971: 11%
- 1991: 12.12%
- 2011: 14.2%
He claimed that the Muslim population increased by 6.24 percentage points, while the Hindu population share decreased by 5.4 points during the same period — attributing this shift to cross-border infiltration.
CAA Defended
The Home Minister also spoke at length about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), calling it a much-needed correction of a “historical mistake.” He said the law is meant to offer citizenship to nearly 2.5 crore persecuted religious minorities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Christians from neighboring countries.
“The CAA has been misunderstood and deliberately misrepresented,” Shah said, praising Prime Minister Modi for ensuring the law was passed to help the victims of religious oppression.
Target at West Bengal
Without directly naming it, Shah criticized the West Bengal government, hinting that it has been soft on infiltration. He accused certain state administrations of turning a blind eye to illegal migration, which he warned could threaten the country’s culture, language, and national integrity.
He concluded by reaffirming the Centre’s intention to take firm action against undocumented migrants and ensure that India’s democratic and cultural framework is protected.
