Amit Shah explains infiltrator vs refugee, links to changing Hindu-Muslim demography data

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that infiltration was a national issue and the Opposition must not grant political patronage to infiltrators. Targeting the Opposition, the Union minister said anyone who fails to understand the difference between refugees and infiltrators is "deceiving themselves, their very souls." 

 

Addressing an event organised by Dainik Jagran, Shah, targeting West Bengal, said "some" state governments have started providing shelter to infiltrators since they have started seeing a vote bank in them. "I want to tell all political parties: Don't link the issue of infiltration, demographics, and SIR to politics. A time will come when even you won't be spared. This isn't a political issue; it's a national issue," the Union home minister said.

 

Underlining the difference between an infiltrator and a refugee, Shah said the latter comes to India to save his/her religion, while an infiltrator crosses over the border illegally, not because of religious persecution but because of economic and other reasons.

 

"Who are infiltrators? Those who have not faced religious persecution and want to come to India illegally for economic or other reasons are infiltrators. If anyone in the world who wants to come here is allowed to do so, our country will become a dharamshala," he said.

 

Linking infiltration to change in Hindu-Muslim population demography in the country, Shah said he is picking these two religions to highlight "infiltration". Citing data of population censuses conducted between 1951 and 2011, Shah said, "In the 1951 census, Hindus constituted 84 per cent of population, while Muslims constituted 9.8 per cent." Highlighting the increase in Muslim population over the years, Shah said in the 1991 census, "we (Hindus) accounted for 89 pc, and Muslims accounted for 14.2 pc."

 

Saying refugees and infiltrators cannot be kept on the same page, the home minister said the Centre will follow the policy of "detect, delete and deport" while dealing with infiltrators. Backing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Shah said inclusion of infiltrators in the voters' list pollutes the spirit of the Constitution.

 

"Free and fair elections cannot take place unless the voter list is according to the voters' definition, which is being an Indian citizen and attaining the eligible age," Shah asserted.

India