High-level panel to probe alleged Bangladeshi Infiltration: Marandi

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi on Friday said a high-level committee has been constituted to examine alleged Bangladeshi infiltration and demographic changes in parts of eastern India, particularly the Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand.

Marandi made the remarks while attending the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya training programme organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party at Sindhi Panchayat Bhavan in Sindhipara, Pakur.

He claimed that changing demographic patterns in West Bengal and Jharkhand, especially in Santhal Pargana, had become a matter of concern and national security. According to him, the committee would examine the reasons behind what he described as demographic changes in the region.

Marandi stated that the tribal population in Santhal Pargana was around 44 percent in 1951 but had now declined to nearly 28 percent, while the Muslim population had allegedly increased from around 9 percent to 22 percent during the same period.

He further alleged that infiltration was taking place through bordering areas connected to Bangladesh via West Bengal. Referring to citizenship verification measures, he said people who entered after 2003 would be identified through the SIR process, while earlier cases might require implementation of the NRC by the Central Government.

The BJP leader also claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly stated that infiltrators would be identified and expelled from the country.

No official data or government report was cited during the statement to independently verify the demographic claims made by Marandi.