Illegal Immigration A National Threat, Says UP MLA Rajeshwar Singh

Uttar Pradesh MLA Rajeshwar Singh has called for swift and structured reforms to tackle the growing issue of illegal immigration in India.

In a letter addressed to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Singh highlighted that illegal infiltration is no longer just a security threat but a grave challenge to the country’s economic stability, cultural fabric, and population balance.

Citing Home Ministry data, Singh pointed out that India had an estimated 1 crore illegal Bangladeshi immigrants by 1997, rising to 1.2 crore by 2004, and over 2 crore by 2016.

Current figures are believed to far exceed previous estimates.

He argued that the deportation process is hindered by misuse of Article 21 (Right to Life), lengthy judicial procedures, activist interventions, and NGO influence.

Proposed six-point reform agenda

To counter these challenges, Singh recommended a six-point action plan:

• Amendment to the Foreigners Act, 1946

Introduce a time-bound deportation mechanism and empower District Magistrates to issue expulsion orders.

• Establishment of Special Immigration Tribunals

Create fast-track courts to avoid judicial delays and speed up deportation decisions.

• Creation of a Centralised Identification Mechanism

Integrate NRC/NPR data with Aadhaar, mobile networks, and AI tools to build a national database of illegal immigrants.

• Strengthening Administrative Infrastructure

Set up detention centres in border states and empower local police to make arrests and verification.

• Implementation of a National Immigration Control Act

Consolidate all provisions under one legal framework to prevent misuse of Article 21 by illegal migrants.

• Judicial Oversight with Limits

Restrict frequent petitions and stays, allowing court intervention only in exceptional humanitarian cases.

Singh drew comparisons with Pakistan, which deported 8 lakh Afghan nationals in a year, criticising India’s legal sluggishness.

He urged for a clear, firm, and constitutionally aligned deportation policy that prioritises national interest without compromising due process.

This proposal signals a strong push for policy change in India’s immigration landscape.

Singh’s appeal emphasises the urgent need for legal clarity and operational efficiency to deal with what he termed as a ‘direct attack on sovereignty’.

The letter to the Law Minister seeks immediate action for implementing the suggested reforms and restoring demographic and cultural equilibrium.

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