Demographic change by infiltration dangerous for country: Shah

Patna/Araria: Describing demographic change caused by infiltration as dangerous for the country, Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Narendra Modi govt was committed to finding a permanent solution to the problem, beginning with the identification of infiltrators and demolition of illegal encroachments within a 10km radius of the border.Addressing personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) after inaugurating border outposts at Letti and Indrawa in Araria district and e-inaugurating and laying foundation stones for SSB projects, Shah said a high-level committee would soon be constituted to examine demographic changes in border areas and recommend measures.“The natural growth of demographics is welcome. But any demographic changes by infiltrators is dangerous for the culture, history and geography of any country. A committee will be formed soon to identify and throw out all infiltrators from the country. All infiltrators have to be identified and illegal encroachments within 10km of the border must be removed first under this campaign,” he said.He added, “That committee will not only study the changes in the demographics of the entire border areas very carefully in detail, but will also suggest ways to deal with the menace.”Without announcing new legislation, Shah stressed vigilance, intelligence coordination and administrative preparedness in border districts. Later, he chaired a closed-door review meeting with senior administrative, police and intelligence officials to assess surveillance mechanisms, scrutiny of land records and inter-agency coordination.The India-Nepal border permits free movement under bilateral arrangements. While this facilitates trade and social ties, it also presents challenges relating to illegal migration and identity fraud. The Seemanchal region, given its proximity to Nepal and the Bangladesh corridor further east, is considered strategically sensitive.Referring to elections in West Bengal, Shah said, “There are elections in West Bengal. I am confident that this time the BJP is going to form govt there. The first agenda of the BJP govt is going to be to complete the fencing work on the border and to identify and send each infiltrator out of the country.”He described West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand as among the worst-affected states and said freeing the country from infiltrators was both a poll promise and a firm resolve of the Modi govt. “It was not only the BJP’s poll promise to the people but also the firm resolve of the Modi govt to free the entire country from infiltrators. This beginning is going to happen in a short time from the Seemanchal region,” he said.Referring to his three-day stay in the region, Shah said, “In these three days, with the Union and state home ministries, district magistrates, DDCs and the SPs, we are making an action plan by holding detailed meetings with many organisations. The mission to flush out infiltrators from the border region is about to begin. I need the cooperation of the people of Seemanchal.”Calling upon SSB personnel to maintain strict vigil, he assured improved facilities and stressed stronger coordination with border villages under the Vibrant Villages 2.0 programme.