Assam’s Ongoing Efforts to Expel Undocumented Migrants: 20 Bangladesh Nationals Sent Back

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that the state government has successfully deported 20 undocumented migrants from Bangladesh. The Chief Minister shared this information on social media, emphasizing the government’s determination to maintain an ‘infiltration-free’ Assam.

Sarma’s statement came along with a blurred image of the detained individuals, underscoring his commitment to the ongoing pushback operations. “Rude people don’t understand soft language,” Sarma remarked, reinforcing his administration’s hardline stance on illegal immigration. The Chief Minister has been vocal about the state’s strategy, which reportedly sees around 35 to 40 undocumented migrants sent back to Bangladesh every week.

The pushback policy has been a focal point of Sarma’s governance, with the Chief Minister declaring in January that the Assam government would repatriate undocumented migrants within a week of their designation as foreigners by the Foreigners’ Tribunals. He further stated that a repatriation treaty between India and Bangladesh is not necessary for this process, indicating the state’s unilateral approach to the issue.

In a broader context, the deportation of these individuals raises important questions regarding human rights and regional politics. The Assam government consistently highlights the importance of securing its borders against illegal immigration, an issue that has been politically sensitive and contentious in India for decades. As political debates continue around the topic of immigration, the state’s actions reflect the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) larger narrative on national security.

Since taking office, Sarma has reported that approximately 2,000 individuals have been pushed back into Bangladesh from October last year until now. This ongoing effort to curb illegal immigration is part of a wider initiative to combat infiltration, which the Assam Chief Minister views as a critical component of ensuring the safety and integrity of the region.

Source: scroll.in