Amid the widespread protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India, AK Abdul Momen, the foreign minister of Bangladesh has said that the country is ready to accept the illegal immigrants. “We will allow them (Bangladesh citizens) as they have the right to enter into their own country,” said Momen. Bangladesh has asked for the ‘list’ of illegal immigrants (Bangladeshi) in India, and these people, if any, will be accepted on Bangladeshi soil.
Also, contrary to what suggested by self-proclaimed foreign policy experts, the Bangladeshi foreign minister said that India-Bangladeshi relations will not be affected due to the Citizenship Amendment Act. “The Bangladesh-India relations are normal. The relations won’t be affected,” said Momen.
Other leaders of Bangladesh have also maintained that the CAA is the internal matter of India, and it will impact the bilateral relations. “We have good relations with the Indian government. The newly passed Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, is India’s own internal affairs. The act will not affect our relations,” said ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader.
It is important to note here that, the NRC process in Assam found 19 lakh illegal immigrants living in the state, which includes the Muslim as well as Hindu community.
In May this year, Assam government deported 20 Bangladeshi nationals to Bangladesh, including one female through legal procedures from the international border at Sutarkandi in Karimganj district. These 20 people had been lodged in Silchar and Kokrajhar detention camp for violation of either the Passports Act of the Foreigners Act.
NRC has turned out to be hugely popular as illegal immigrants pose a massive threat to the security and safety of India. The difficulties faced by the people of the North-eastern states due to the influx of a large number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants include the loss of employment and loss of business opportunities, amongst others. These are accompanied by the destruction of the natural beauty, balance of the society and local culture due to the ever-increasing burden of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
The influx of lakhs of illegal Bangladeshi Muslims into Assam does not only create the issue of demographic trouble and exhaustion of resources but is also an infringement of India’s territorial sovereignty. India being a sovereign nation cannot allow such blatant infiltration of the Bangladeshi immigrants without the authority of law.
Previously, The Indian Express reported that many of the suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have started migrating from Bengaluru following the recent crackdown. The illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are running here and there, in fear of being deported. It is wise of the Bangladeshi of the government to accept the citizens because; they will be put in detention camps if they do not go back to their country.
The BJP has consistently opposed illegal immigration, and the ruling party’s position has only become stronger ever since the party president, Amit Shah was appointed as the Union Home Minister. He has taken a tough stand on illegal immigration which now seems to be resulting in illegal immigrants crossing over into Bangladesh, following a realisation of the fact that the Government of India is no longer going to tolerate illegal immigration and presence of illegal immigrants within India.
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Rajya Sabha that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will soon be implemented at an all India level. Moreover, it was reported only a few months ago that the Modi government has decided to prepare a National Population Register (NPR) by September next year. It will be a list of usual residents of the country.
A usual resident is defined is someone who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more or who intends to reside in a local area for the coming six months or more. According to an official, the NPR, once prepared and published will form the basis of the preparation of National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). The NRIC would be a pan-India version of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC).