‘Anti-infiltration stand crucial for national security’: NDA leaders on HM Shah’s ‘dharamshala’ remarks
New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday welcomed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s strong remarks on illegal infiltration, describing his position as an essential step towards safeguarding India’s national security and protecting the country’s interests.
Their reaction came after Union Minister Shah outlined an expansive internal security vision for the next two decades, asserting that India’s ambition of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 would depend significantly on maintaining a strong and effective internal security framework.
Addressing the valedictory session of the Intelligence Bureau’s National Security Strategy Conference in New Delhi, the Union Home Minister called for proactive and coordinated measures to deal with infiltration, terrorism, narcotics trafficking and other emerging threats to the country’s security.
“This country is not a Dharamshala, and only the citizens of the country have the right to live in this country,” he said, warning that the presence of illegal infiltrators could pose serious challenges to national security, economic stability and demographic balance.
Backing Union Minister Shah’s remarks, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam told IANS that the Union Home Minister had spoken in the larger interest of the country and that the issue of infiltration could not be ignored.
“The Home Minister (Amit Shah) has spoken in the interest of the nation. This country is a family, and the people of this country have the primary right to it. If infiltrators come here, compromise the nation’s security, usurp the rights of the local people, and fuel terrorist activities, what else can be expected?” Kadam said.
“During the Congress regime, such people (illegal infiltrators) were deliberately encouraged and used as a vote bank. That can absolutely not happen under the PM Narendra Modi-led government,” he added.
Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi also endorsed Union Minister Shah’s position, saying that the government and the BJP were firmly committed to preventing illegal infiltration and protecting the country’s resources and security.
“Union Minister Amit Shah’s clear position, which is also the position of the Union government and the Bharatiya Janata Party, is that India is not a ‘Dharamshala’ where infiltrators can come, stay and misuse the country’s resources,” Saraogi told IANS.
“The BJP fully supports this anti-infiltration stance. Union Minister Amit Shah has said that infiltrators will be detected, deleted and deported — identified, removed and sent out of the country,” he said.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader K.C. Tyagi also described Union Minister Shah’s statement as significant, particularly in view of the circumstances in which it was made.
Speaking to IANS, Tyagi said, ” Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement is important given the circumstances in which it was made. No foreign national should have the right to reside in India without obtaining citizenship.”
The statements from the NDA leaders came against the backdrop of the Centre’s renewed focus on strengthening internal security and addressing threats linked to illegal infiltration, terrorism and organised criminal networks.
–IANS
sd/khz
