The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has released a report on the influx of unauthorised immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh to Delhi and the immense strain they have created on resources and infrastructure, sparking a political row ahead of the Delhi elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are passing the buck on the issue of illegal immigration. While the BJP blamed the AAP for “playing” with national security, the AAP pointed out that the central government is in charge of border security.
In a press conference Monday, BJP leader Sambit Patra, citing the JNU report, complained about the strain on Delhi’s socio-economic fabric due to the “massive, rampant influx of unauthorised immigrants”.
Slamming the AAP government, Patra said, “The report says that political patronage plays a crucial role in enabling a steady influx of undocumented Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, with the AAP playing a significant part. It also highlights how these political parties are facilitating fake voter registrations for migrants.”
Responding, Anurag Dhanda, the senior vice president of the AAP’s Haryana unit, said, “Border security comes under the central government. Without their involvement, unauthorised immigrants can not come in. It is the total failure of Amit Shah ji.”
Dhanda also pointed fingers at Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, saying, “He announced that flats for lower-income groups should go to Rohingyas. The AAP strictly opposed it. Our line on this whole issue has been pretty clear.”
He added: “Moreover, these unauthorised immigrants were not identified and sent back. That is also the central government’s failure. It [the BJP] allows them to live here, then blackmails them to leave, then makes use of their votes. They [BJP] are using these immigrants for their benefit.”
The presence of undocumented migrants has contributed to demographic changes, notably an increasing Muslim population in certain localities, according to the 114-page report, ‘Illegal Immigrants to Delhi: Analysing Socio-Economic and Political Conditions‘.
The shift in the socio-political landscape raises concerns about electoral manipulation and changes in voting patterns due to the alleged facilitation of voter registration for migrants, it stated.
Highlighting that unauthorised immigration to Delhi has grown, particularly after the 2017 Rohingya crisis, the report stated that migrants often relied on informal networks, such as brokers, agents and religious preachers, to secure housing and jobs. That led to the creation of fake identification documents, which in turn “undermine legal systems and electoral processes”, added the report.
Migrants have also been “linked to illegal activities, such as smuggling, document forgery, and human trafficking”, posing “significant security risks to the city and complicating law enforcement efforts”, the report further stated.
Since the 2017 Rohingya crisis, millions of refugees have fled to India, and many of them settled in the densely populated areas of Seelampur, Jamia Nagar, Zakir Nagar, Sultanpuri, Mustafabad, Jafrabad, Dwarka, and Govindpuri.
In a statement shared with ThePrint, the JNU administration said the study was done by JNU and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) students based on figures released by the Home Ministry, according to which “60% of the crimes committed in India were by illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.”
According to the statement, unauthorised immigrants are difficult to recognise because their physical features and language match Indians. “Twenty-one areas were studied by the group as a pilot study,” it added.
The statement by the JNU administration further said: “Economically worrying is the disenfranchisement of India’s poorest of poor, who are also in the city looking for jobs and services and who are denied this by these illegal immigrants, who have better networks. They are more violent than locals. This challenges the constitutional state created by Baba Saheb Ambedkar and other founding fathers of the Indian Republic and the Constitution of India.”
The report shed light on other issues caused over the years due to the influx of illegal immigrants, including the creation of unauthorised settlements, which, in turn, have exacerbated overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and inaccessibility to essential services.
Among the economic challenges is the intensified competition in the job market, the report stated. It noted that unauthorised immigrants have primarily found employment in low-wage sectors, such as construction, domestic work, and informal trading, resulting in resentment among native workers. According to the report, many also engage in informal economic activities, reducing tax revenues and limiting the formal economy’s growth.
The report highlighted that illegal settlements have contributed to the expansion of unsafe housing, with slums and unregulated colonies lacking basic infrastructure. That has led to environmental degradation, including deforestation, pollution, and wetland encroachment.
The surge in illegal immigration, it said, has placed enormous pressure on Delhi’s already overstretched public services, mainly healthcare facilities. “Overcrowded hospitals and clinics are unable to meet the demands of both legal residents and undocumented populations, resulting in reduced access to quality healthcare for all.”
Similarly, the education system in migrant-heavy localities is under strain. Schools are struggling to accommodate the rising number of students, leading to overcrowded classrooms and a decline in the quality of education.
“Overcrowding in schools due to the influx of migrant children puts pressure on educational infrastructure, affecting the quality of education for all students. Some children end up dropping out to work and support their families,” the report stated, adding that the lack of education limited their future opportunities and perpetuated poverty.
