AAP aiding influx of illegal immigrants; BJP's big charge ahead of Delhi polls

Sambit Patra

Drawing from the 114-page report released by the Jawaharlal Nehru University on the influx of illegal immigrants in Delhi, the BJP on Monday doubled down on the Aam Aadmi Party saying the party is playing with national security.

The report that comes days ahead of the hardly-fought Delhi elections has created a stir in the national capital as the issue has bigger ramifications for national security.

Illegal migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar has altered Delhi-NCR’s socio-political and economic fabric, causing ‘notable increase of Muslim population’ as political patronage plays a crucial role allowing the steady influx of undocumented Bangladeshi and Rohingyas, reveals a 114-page report released by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), reported News18.

The findings elaborate on how such influx of illegal settlers has not only transformed the city’s demographics but disrupted its economy, strained the resources, and also strengthened criminal networks by feeding into it. Significantly, the findings of the report echoed a similar study on Mumbai by TISS ahead of the Maharashtra election.

The report titled – Illegal Immigrants to Delhi: Analysing Socio-economic and Political Consequences – published this week, also highlights how the political parties and their accomplices facilitate fake voter registration for these migrants, raising concerns about electoral integrity and democratic manipulation.

“Illegal immigration to Delhi has significantly altered the city’s demographic landscape,with a large influx of migrants from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar.These migrants often settle in overcrowded neighbourhoods such as Seelampur, JamiaNagar, Zakir Nagar, Sultanpuri, Mustafabad, Jafrabad, Dwarka, Govindpuri and many more, where they strain resources and disrupt local social cohesion," the report stated.