Immigrants will outnumber the indigenous population of the Northeast Region by 2025 Illegal immigration from Bangladesh surges in Assam and West Bengal Gulf News, Kolkata, 1 Sept, 2014: The Findings of Census 2011 which revealed exponential growth in the number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh into several districts across Assam and West Bengal over the last decade, has put the state and central governments on alert. Data compiled by Dr C Chandramouli Office of Registrar General of India (RGI) and the Census Commissioner, shows an increase of about 5 to 7 per cent of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in various districts of the two states. “The two states have several districts which are adjoining the international border and shows an a steady increase in the illegal migrant population in the last decade. In many of these districts, the migrant population is at majority over the indigenous populations,” said an officer of the Census Commissioner. Apart from putting immense pressure on resources and altering the socioeconomic feature of the districts, the new demographics can also play a major role in deciding the political discourse in these areas. “Bharatiya Janata Party has witnessed a huge rise in its political fortunes in both the states of Assam and West Bengal and unchecked illegal immigration has certainly played a key role, since the indigenous people are afraid of losing their hold on their own land. If this goes unchecked it can flare into a major human conflict as seen in the various riots all over Assam,” said Pinaki Dev, a sociologist in Calcutta University. The state of Assam and the entire Northeastern region is at further risk, as many estimates that by 2025, the illegal immigrant population will outnumber the entire indigenous population of the region excluding Assam and the whole northeast indigenous people will be reduced to a minority in 30 years’ time. Though there are no official figures of actual numbers of Bangladeshis in Assam, locals say their population could be 6 million of the State’s 30 million people. That means one-fifth of the State’s population is Bangladeshi immigrants. And the State alone produces over one-third Bangladeshi immigrants in the country. Government officials though refuse on comment on the data considering the political implication, home minister Rajnath Singh, secretary Anil Goswami and Chandramouli had two meeting last week and the government is expected to take a series of steps to check the immigration in order to prevent the demographic fallout of the same. State governments though refuse to comment on the issue sighting that international borders are under the jurisdiction of the Union government, sources reveal that many worry about the fallout if demographics further alter. “Illegal migration has certainly altered Bengal politics in the past, but the rise of the BJP is also a fallout of the same. Whatever we gain today can come to haunt us in the future,” said a Trinamool Congress leader. gulfnews/news/world/india/illegal-immigration-from-bangladesh-surges-in-assam-and-west-bengal-1.1379295 2011 Census data shows in many districts of Assam, Bengal they are in a maority The religion data findings of Census 2011 show exponential growth in Muslim population of Bangladeshi origin over the last census in several districts across Assam and West Bengal. The data was complied last week by the Office of Registrar General of India (RGI) and the Census Commissioner. It shows 5-7 percentage point increase in absolute terms of Bangladeshi Muslim population over the 2001 census data in nearly all districts of Assam and West Bengal bordering Bangladesh, sources told dna. So, how many Bangladeshi Muslims are there? In most districts of Assam and West Bengal bordering Bangladesh, their population has either become majority or threatening to become majority. The uniform increase of 5-7 percent clearly shows illegal migration has remained unchecked during the last decade, a source said. Hows the new demographic changing politics? The All India United Democratic Front of Badruddin Ajmal, said to be supported by Bangladeshi Muslims, won three seats – Karimganj, Dhubri and Barpeta – in the LS elections. Incidentally, Muslim population is the highest in these places. Doesnt it vindicate the BJP stand? Yes. Large-scale illegal immigration of Bangladeshi Muslims was the partys main poll plank in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Riding this plank, the BJP won 7 parliamentary seats, an all-time high, in Assam. Whats the govt reaction? The data, being kept under tight wraps, was discussed in two back-to-back meetings by home minister Rajnath Singh, secretary Anil Goswami and RGI Dr C Chandramouli last week. A presentation of the findings is now being readied for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is expected to kick-start a series of steps to check the demographic fallouts. Whats the break-up of the population? Muslim population, mostly of Bangladeshi origin, is 59% in Barpeta, 36% in Cachar, 52% in Karimganj, 74% in Dhubri, 51% in Nagaon, 25% in Kamrup, 54% in Goalpara, 57% in Hailakandi, 47% in Uttar Dinajpur, 24% in South Dinajpur, 52% in Malda, 25% in Cooch Behar and 64% in Murshidabad as per 2001 census.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:58:38 +0000
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