In his 79th Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a demographic mission to safeguard India from the dangers of illegal immigration.
From the Red Fort, Modi warned about a conspiracy to change India's demographics and stated clearly that his government would not accept actions to change India's fabric of society and culture.
"I would like to alert the nation about a concern, a challenge. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, the country's demography is being changed, and seeds of a new crisis are being sown. These infiltrators are snatching the livelihood of the youth of my country. They are targeting our sisters and daughters. They are misleading the adivasis and grabbing their lands. This will not be tolerated," said PM Modi.
Illegal immigration has become an intensifying issue across the country resulting in increased efforts from authorities. In several cities, officials are conducting verification checks on the identities of suspicious workers, particularly targeting foreign nationals- especially those from Bangladesh- who are living in the country as supposedly Indian citizens.
The Prime Minister's comments epitomized the growing problem of illegal immigration and delivered a targeted warning to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Her party has complained that Indian citizens of Bengali origin are being inappropriately singled out in anti-Bangladeshi actions.
In his comments Modi also alluded to the problems associated with demographic changes, particularly in border areas of India, and urged vigilance and action to deal with these problems.
"Demographical shifts in border regions are a national security threat. It creates an environment for conflict. No nation can capitulate to infiltrators. So why can we? Not to allow this to happen is an obligation to the ancestors who gifted us an Independent India. Therefore, I declare from the ramparts of Red Fort, that we have decided to put in place a high-powered demography mission. This mission will address the threat of demography that hangs over India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated.
The Prime Minister's powerful message of 'national security' seemed to cut down West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's attempts to use the immigration crackdown for regional political purposes.
The controversy had recently spiraled into an unusual language conflict between Bengali and Bangladeshi, when the Delhi Police made reference to a translation they said was “written in Bangladeshi.” Using this language, Banerjee's Trinamool Congress Party accused the BJP led Centre of “systematically pushing xenophobia,” and “deliberately attacking Bengalis.”
"Such dangerous narratives must be condemned and resisted at every level," the party had said.
The BJP had already been fighting back against what it called "dangerously inflammatory remarks", and even had its media cell chief, Amit Malviya, suggesting that Mamata Banerjee should be "made accountable... under the National Security Act."
“To claim otherwise, and call upon Bengalis to go against the Centre, is grossly irresponsible. Mamata Banerjee should be made accountable,” declared Malviya.
