Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Stop the influx of illegal Bangladeshis' that was published in Newsband

Stop the influx of illegal Bangladeshis

The new government places great importance on Dhaka-New Delhi relations. National Democratic Alliance government started off with India’s important eastern neighbour by sending their External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Bangladesh as soon as they came to power. The clear message from the trip was that the new government, as the previous one, placed great importance on Dhaka-New Delhi relations.

There is no doubt that a great deal has been accomplished in the relationship in the last few years in the areas of security, economic development, sub-regional cooperation, opening of the Indian market to Bangladeshi goods, border infrastructure, energy and people-to-people exchanges.

By easing the visa norms, has India made a mistake? The operation of bus service from Gauhati, Shillong to Dhaka will invite more and more illegal refugees to the land of North-East. Today North-East region, particularly Assam, has become a both breathing and breeding center for Bangladeshi refugees. Indian government may think that they can take various steps to check such illegal entry through various mechanisms like: Passport, Visa, ILP etc But, the fact as it remain is far away from the sight of government. A question - Why the population of Assam and other parts of NE states is increasing so rapidly? The reason is simple - entry of mature refugees. the Bangladeshi illegal immigrants who cross the Indo-Bangladesh border and enter India are no doubt, an adult or mature person. No child can do that. So, since this refugees comes to India at their adult or re-productive stage, within a couple of year they will give a birth to child. It seems that North-East India has become a breeding centre. So, the government has to be very careful with the policy.

One of the main reasons for BJP gaining so many seats in Assam was because the people felt that something positive and tangible will be done by this government regarding the huge influx of illegal Bangladeshis. People were let down by the previous governments who have used these Bangladeshis as vote banks. As it is almost quite frequent, these illegal migrants cross over to Assam and when bus services and frequent train services are going to be introduced, these migrants are going to come all the more. As it is Assamese are a minority now in their own state. What was actually expected by the local Assamese population was stronger border vigil and building of barriers in the border to prevent their influx. Now the Assamese who have voted this government to power primarily to deal with this Bangladeshi influx are surely going to feel let down.

India should take lessons on border problems with our next door neighbours. Curbing intruders and illicit immigration should be totally curbed from the very begining. Foregin policy options should keep in mind the border states concern. BJP-led government at the Centre should not show haste in building one sided friendship with its neighbours. There should not be any undue concessions to neighbours without their demanding. It appears that India is concerned with achieving minor things, than to achieve bigger things . Borders should be demarcated and fencing completed without any scope for large scale intrusion and smuggling. India should offer those things, what it can get in return. There must be two ways traffic for enduring peace in the region.