Shah cited official statistics, stating that the Muslim population in India has increased by 24.6%, while the Hindu population has declined by 4.5%. “This change is not due to fertility rates,” he asserted, “but because of infiltration from across the borders.” According to Shah, the partition of India created the conditions for population movements, with Hindus taking refuge in India and Muslims allegedly entering India unlawfully.
Voting Rights and Electoral Integrity
The Home Minister highlighted that the inclusion of non-citizens in voter lists “pollutes the spirit of the Constitution.” He emphasized that free and fair elections depend on accurate electoral rolls that include only Indian citizens of eligible age. Shah stressed that the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to clean voter lists is a national, not political, matter.
He also criticized opposition parties, particularly Congress, for allegedly ignoring issues related to voter list integrity during their tenure. “The opposition is opposing because their vote banks are getting affected,” Shah said, urging citizens to approach courts if they face discrepancies in voter registration.
National Security Perspective
Shah framed infiltration as a national security concern, linking it to demographic shifts and the integrity of India’s electoral system. By distinguishing between refugees and infiltrators, he underlined the government’s stance that population control, security, and voting rights are interlinked issues that must be addressed proactively.