Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, claimed that by 2025, the Muslim population in India will have increased to 24.6 per cent from 14.2 per cent in 2011. He also remarked that this increase is not just from natural fertility but from illegality across country borders. In a speech in Assam, the Shah said that the government’s data shows that these individuals have changed the demography, especially in the border areas of India that share it with Bangladesh. He said this is a serious national security issue, and he stated the government will take “big corrective action” on it soon.
Big Corrective Action on the Cards
Amit Shah implied a broad national strategy that would include enhanced border security, heightened documentation inspections, and AI-enabled tracking systems to locate unauthorised immigrants. He guaranteed that the Central government is working with state governments to secure porous border locations, especially in the Northeast.
Some officials suggested that processes such as the National Population Register (NPR) and Aadhaar identification verification could also come into play to sift through identity discrepancies related to infiltration.
Political and Regional Impact
The comments made by the Home Minister have fueled a vigorous political discourse. Opposition leaders have accused the BJP of attempting to communalise demographic data in advance of elections. Shah clarified that the aim of the government is not to target any community but instead to maintain a demographic equilibrium and ensure India’s internal security.
There has been strong public support for the government’s position in states like Assam, West Bengal, and Tripura, where the historically contentious nature of migration has mattered. Experts suggest that new interventions may alter verification of citizenship and border management protocols.
Pan India Strategy Expected
Sources say that the planned interventions for the future will be Pan-India-based—potentially encompassing border management systems and urban monitoring processes. Shah characterised the initiative as one that aims to “protect the social and cultural fabric” of India and ensure that citizenship rights are free from illegal abuses.
