New Delhi: Accusing the West Bengal government of giving citizenship and Aadhaar cards to ‘infiltrators’ from Bangladesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said the Mamata Banerjee-led administration’s refusal to provide land is delaying completion of fencing along 450 km of the 2,216 km-border that India shares with Bangladesh.
“I have written at least ten times to the state government, we have had seven meetings with the West Bengal home and chief secretary. But the work has stopped because they are not giving land… It is because of the Bengal government’s generous attitude towards the infiltrators that they have managed to enter Indian territory so easily,” Shah said while replying to the debate on The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha.
The law, which seeks to regulate immigration, entry, and stay of foreigners in India, was passed in the Lower House after a four-hour discussion. It will repeal four existing Acts: the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; The Foreigners Act, 1946, and The Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000.
Shah said that Section 3 of the bill provides for denying entry to someone, who is a threat to national security. “This country is not a dharmashala. Now the blacklist has a legal backing,” he said. According to the bill, any foreigner entering India without a passport and visa will face up to five years in jail or a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh, or both.
Replying in the Lok Sabha on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. https://t.co/dTng66Ro5M
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 27, 2025
Shah said during his reply that fencing has been done along 1,653 km of India’s border with Bangladesh. But a 562-km stretch in West Bengal is still open. “Of this, a 112-km stretch is such where fencing is not possible due to difficult terrain, rivers, etc. And 450 km is yet to be done because the West Bengal government is not giving land,” the Union home minister said.
He alleged that officials visiting border areas to oversee the fencing work face hostility at the hands of volunteers from the ruling party who create a nuisance and raise religious slogans. This, he said, is because the state government favours ‘infiltrators’.
“… those willing to seek asylum in India to contribute to building its foundation or pursuing research and development, business and/or legal system are welcome. However, I would like to emphasise equally that those coming to create turmoil, be it Rohingyas or Bangladeshis, we will deal with in a stern manner,” Shah said.
“All of the Bangladeshis who have been caught have Aadhaar cards from West Bengal’s 24 Parganas and citizenship,” he said without specifying when these “Bangladeshis” were caught by authorities.
“Who has given them (infiltrators) an Aadhaar card? They are residents of which state? If you don’t issue an Aadhaar card, leave alone humans, even an bird can’t come here,” Shah said.
Responding to the Opposition’s charge that the legislation violates fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, Shah said it is important from a national security point of view, since authorities must know who is crossing into the nation’s borders. “We will also keep a close watch on those who will endanger the security of the country…,” he said.
BJP MP from West Bengal’s Tamluk, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, said the bill will replace British-era laws that governed immigration-related issues. “These were made for British subjects, are we still British subjects?”
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Oppn criticises provisions of law
Earlier, debating on the bill, several opposition MPs expressed concern over its ‘violative’ provisions and demanded that it be referred to a select committee for further scrutiny.
Opposing the bill, Congress’s Manish Tewari said it violates fundamental rights and the Centre may use its provisions to deny entry to those whose ideology differs from the ruling dispensation of the day. The bill gives unbridled and arbitrary powers to the central government, he said.
Tewari criticised the provision in the bill that makes the decision of an immigration officer final and binding, without giving a chance to an immigrant to appeal. He compared the bill with the immigration laws in other countries that provide avenues for appeal.
“Here, there is no such mechanism. The only recourse is to approach the high court under Article 226 or move the Supreme Court. There is a need to incorporate the safeguard of immigration judges in this law,” he said.
Responding to Tewari’s charge, Shah asked, “What appeal? When it comes to security of the country…. Be it America, England, Germany or France, there is no appeal apart from the court and the same will be the case here.”
Several opposition MPs including DMK’s Kanimozhi and Trinamool Congress’s Saugata Roy expressed concerns over how Indian citizens were deported from the US, in handcuffs and chains.
“On the international stage, we have seen how our citizens are being deported in inhumane conditions,” Kanimozhi said.
Roy asked why so many Indians are forced to take the ‘Dunki route’ if things are good in India. “If you’ve seen Shah Rukh Khan’s film Dunki, you will understand how much hardship people endure to reach America for a better life,” he said. Adding, “But the way America sent our people back, with their hands and feet shackled, was a national insult. An American Air Force plane dropped deported Indians in Chandigarh, yet we remained silent. The government has failed to stop this humiliation.”
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai criticised the government’s silence when Indian youths were being deported, handcuffed and chained.
“Agar desh ka danka baj raha hai, desh ki vyavastha itni achhi hai toh dunki route se jaane ki koi zarurat nahi thi…..ek bhi American pakda jaata hai toh usko bhi kya aap hathkadi mein wapis bhejte hain (if India’s standing is being recognized globally and our systems are so good, then why are people taking illegal routes to go abroad? … If even a single American is caught, will you also shackle and send him back?” he asked.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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