Illegal immigration
Migration has been a consistent features of humanity. Groups of people, one time or another moved from one place to another in search of food, shelter, or better life. Nomads like Gypsies, Gujars, and Bedouins continue to roam around on the earth. But the modern nation states with well-defined borders have made it difficult for people to freely migrate resulting in limited mobility for the population.
Still migration continues even with all border protection, it is called illegal immigration, and a source of great political tension. In India, right wing parties have made a big issue about Bangladeshis coming to India in search of employment. Interestingly enough, they don’t make the issue of Nepalis having free access to Indian jobs including Indian Army.
Bangladeshis on the other hand, get menial jobs like construction labours, rickshaw drawing, cleaning and jobs of this nature. There is really no evidence that any of them have been involved in terrorism cases even though media continues to make this claim.
These same parties do not raise any hue or cry about Nepalis moving freely in India and in fact are willing to give Indian citizenship to Hindus who come from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This proves that they really don’t care about the borders of India or laws of India but are really driven by hate of the Muslims.
Cry of illegal immigration has also become a tool to harass Muslims who have been living in border areas for generations.
Still, I think every one should follow the law of the land and people who have illegally crossed the border should be sent back and a way made for people to search for jobs in a legal way.
Look at the data below provided by human rights activist Dipak De about increasing population of Darjeeling area, but no one will make this an issue since it does not involve Muslims on the other side of the law.
Still migration continues even with all border protection, it is called illegal immigration, and a source of great political tension. In India, right wing parties have made a big issue about Bangladeshis coming to India in search of employment. Interestingly enough, they don’t make the issue of Nepalis having free access to Indian jobs including Indian Army.
Bangladeshis on the other hand, get menial jobs like construction labours, rickshaw drawing, cleaning and jobs of this nature. There is really no evidence that any of them have been involved in terrorism cases even though media continues to make this claim.
These same parties do not raise any hue or cry about Nepalis moving freely in India and in fact are willing to give Indian citizenship to Hindus who come from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This proves that they really don’t care about the borders of India or laws of India but are really driven by hate of the Muslims.
Cry of illegal immigration has also become a tool to harass Muslims who have been living in border areas for generations.
Still, I think every one should follow the law of the land and people who have illegally crossed the border should be sent back and a way made for people to search for jobs in a legal way.
Look at the data below provided by human rights activist Dipak De about increasing population of Darjeeling area, but no one will make this an issue since it does not involve Muslims on the other side of the law.
POPULATION OF DARJEELING TOWN AT A GLANCE:
Year Population Increase in percentage
1839 100 ……………….
1849 10,000 ……………….
1901 17,000 ………………..
1911 19,000 12.30%
1921 22,000 17.12%
1931 21,000 (-)4.82%
1941 27,000 28.51%
1951 34,000 23.44%
1961 41,000 20.97%
1971 43,000 5.47%
1981 58,000 34.36%
1991 71,000 24.37%
2001 103,000* 44.43%*
(*this growth in 1991-2001 is due to the unsustainable migration in the area, mainly the low class wage earner, for better opportunity).
POPULATION OF DARJEELING DISTRICT:
Year Population
1951 445,260
1961 624,640
1971 781,777
1981 1,024,269
1991 1,299,919
2001 1,605,900
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