Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 26: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday backed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's strong remarks on illegal infiltration, describing his position as essential to safeguarding India's national security and protecting the country's interests.
Their reactions came after Shah outlined a broad internal security vision for the next two decades and said 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, Shah called for proactive and coordinated measures to tackle infiltration, terrorism, narcotics trafficking and other emerging security threats.
"This country is not a Dharamshala, and only the citizens of the country have the right to live in this country," Shah said, warning that illegal infiltration could pose serious challenges to national security, economic stability and demographic balance.
Backing Shah, Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam told IANS that the Home Minister had spoken in the larger national interest 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.
He alleged that illegal infiltrators had been encouraged during previous Congress-led governments for electoral considerations.
"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 Shah's position, saying the government and the BJP were 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 Shah's statement as significant, particularly in the context in which it was made.
Speaking to reporters, 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 NDA leaders' statements came amid the Centre's renewed focus on strengthening internal security and addressing threats associated with illegal infiltration, terrorism and organised criminal networks.