'Take Strict Action Against Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants': Delhi LG To Police Commissioner

The latest directive comes amid heightened political tensions as the issue of illegal immigration gains traction in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday wrote to the Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner directing them to take "strict action" against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in the national capital.

The LG Secretariat has asked the Chief Secretary and the Police Commissioner to launch a special drive to identify illegal Bangladesh immigrants in Delhi and take strict action as per the extant rules in a time-bound manner.

The development comes after a delegation of Ulemas and Muslim leaders of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah area and Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin met LG VK Saxena on Saturday over the attacks against Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh. The delegation also demanded action against the "neighbouring country's infiltrators living in the city."

Officials said that the delegation demanded that illegal migrants should not be given houses on rent and those living on rent be evicted. They also urged officials to ensure that any establishment should not offer illegal migrant employment and those employed should be asked to quit.

“If any Masjid or Madarsa has given shelter to such infiltrators, they should immediately evict them. A special drive be launched to identify such infiltrators and be sent back to Bangladesh,” the delegation reportedly told the LG Saxena.

The LG Secretariat directed the chief secretary to provide a time-bound response with weekly progress reports to be submitted. The latest directive comes amid heightened political tensions as the issue of illegal immigration gains traction in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections.  

The BJP recently accused AAP of facilitating the inclusion of illegal immigrants as voters during its tenure, intensifying the political discourse. The LG's move is expected to add another dimension to the ongoing debate over illegal immigrants, law enforcement, and security in the city.

AAP, which secured landslide victories in the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections, is seeking a third consecutive term while the BJP aims to regain power in the capital after 25 years.