Bangladeshis hold key to 20 LS, 120 Assembly seats

GUWAHATI, July 29: Over one crore Bangladeshi nationals are illegally staying in India and are in a position to influence electoral outcome in 20 parliamentary and 120 Assembly constituencies, according to The Inside Story, an investigative programme of Zee News. Unchecked infiltration due to negligence of successive Governments has changed the demographic profile of large parts of Assam, West Bengal, Delhi and even Mumbai. As infiltration continues more and more parliamentary and Assembly segments are likely to come under their influence. The Inside Story traces the routes and the ways and means by which Bangladeshi nationals infiltrate into India, and also how the touts thrive, security forces connive and politicians turn illegal immigrants into vote banks. The Indian Government as well as different political parties are yet to take cognisance of the social tensions that the changing demographic profile is generating. Highlighting how the demographic changes are taking place The Inside Story reveals shocking statistics. In Assam during 1971-1991 population of illegal migrants grew by 54 per cent in Goalpara, 75 per cent in Kokrajhar, 105 per cent in Dhemaji. Similarly over 40 lakh Bangladeshis are now living in Bihar mostly in Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, Begusorai, Bhagalpur, Purnia and Sahabganj. In Delhi it is estimated that there are about six lakh Bangladeshis living illegally in Seelampur, Yamuna Pushata and Jehangirpuri. The Inside Story sounds an alarm bell that if infiltration continues unchecked in next 10 years Bangladeshis may be in a position to influence results in about 50 Parliamentary and over 250 Assembly seats of the country.