Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said infiltration of Rohingyas into India has increased significantly and the threat of demographic invasion is real and serious.
''The Rohingyas are continuously coming to India using the India-Bangladesh border and many states are suffering from demographic encroachment,'' Sarma said at a press conference here.
Assam protects only a part of the Indo-Bangladesh border, but a large area remains porous, he added.
''I request the government of India to strengthen surveillance along the border with Bangladesh, particularly in West Bengal, which is a weak link for the country's security,'' the CM said. The governments of West Bengal and Jharkhand are soft on these infiltrators and have not taken any steps to stop them, he claimed.
''In fact, the Chief Minister of West Bengal made a statement that the state will give shelter to those coming from Bangladesh, a position that has not been supported by the government of the neighboring country,'' Sarma said.
This statement has raised the question of "how committed they are to solving the infiltration problem." The problem of illegal influx is real and serious,' he stated.
''West Bengal is very soft on infiltration. When a Chief Minister says that I am going to open the borders... to give relief and rehabilitation, he indicates that the situation is very grim,' Sarma said.
''I have seen demographic invasions in Assam, Jharkhand and West Bengal. When the census is conducted, there will be shocking news about the demography in the eastern states of India,'' Sarma said.
The demographic encroachment is happening mainly due to the policy of appeasement and if it continues, "a situation may arise where it cannot be controlled as most states are currently suffering from it," he said.
In Assam, the situation is different as people are well aware of the demographic encroachment, he added.
"During the Assam agitation against illegal foreigners, people warned that the problems facing the state would eventually impact the entire country, and we are seeing that happening now," Sarma added.
He added that if the 2024 and 2019 voter lists are compared, the demographic change will be evident.
The state government has launched a project that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze changes in demographics and religious ratios, Sarma added.
The governments of Assam and Tripura have taken strong action in this matter and the police of both states arrested several Rohingya infiltrators on several occasions, he said.
''Assam is no longer a safe haven for Rohingyas because we do not follow a soft policy. Our situation is better than that of West Bengal and Jharkhand and has not worsened since the BJP government came to power,'' the Chief Minister added.
''The Rohingyas are continuously coming to India using the India-Bangladesh border and many states are suffering from demographic encroachment,'' Sarma said at a press conference here.
Assam protects only a part of the Indo-Bangladesh border, but a large area remains porous, he added.
''I request the government of India to strengthen surveillance along the border with Bangladesh, particularly in West Bengal, which is a weak link for the country's security,'' the CM said. The governments of West Bengal and Jharkhand are soft on these infiltrators and have not taken any steps to stop them, he claimed.
''In fact, the Chief Minister of West Bengal made a statement that the state will give shelter to those coming from Bangladesh, a position that has not been supported by the government of the neighboring country,'' Sarma said.
This statement has raised the question of "how committed they are to solving the infiltration problem." The problem of illegal influx is real and serious,' he stated.
''West Bengal is very soft on infiltration. When a Chief Minister says that I am going to open the borders... to give relief and rehabilitation, he indicates that the situation is very grim,' Sarma said.
''I have seen demographic invasions in Assam, Jharkhand and West Bengal. When the census is conducted, there will be shocking news about the demography in the eastern states of India,'' Sarma said.
The demographic encroachment is happening mainly due to the policy of appeasement and if it continues, "a situation may arise where it cannot be controlled as most states are currently suffering from it," he said.
In Assam, the situation is different as people are well aware of the demographic encroachment, he added.
"During the Assam agitation against illegal foreigners, people warned that the problems facing the state would eventually impact the entire country, and we are seeing that happening now," Sarma added.
He added that if the 2024 and 2019 voter lists are compared, the demographic change will be evident.
The state government has launched a project that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze changes in demographics and religious ratios, Sarma added.
The governments of Assam and Tripura have taken strong action in this matter and the police of both states arrested several Rohingya infiltrators on several occasions, he said.
''Assam is no longer a safe haven for Rohingyas because we do not follow a soft policy. Our situation is better than that of West Bengal and Jharkhand and has not worsened since the BJP government came to power,'' the Chief Minister added.
