- August 15, 2025
Demography Mission: Why Prime Minister’s Message On Independence Day Matters
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According to the BJP, unchecked illegal migration, particularly in opposition-ruled states, has eroded basic rights, especially for backward communities and tribal populations.
PM Narendra Modi donned a bright saffron turban, paired with a Nehru jacket over a crisp white kurta set. The simplicity of the kurta provided a clean backdrop for the more striking accessories, including a cream stole with a tricolour-inspired border, symbolising the nation’s history, unity, and pride. (File Photo)
From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a pointed and politically charged message: India will not bow to the challenges posed by shifting demographics and the growing threat of illegal migration.
His remarks came at a particularly sensitive time, as opposition parties intensify criticism of the Election Commission of India’s Special Integrated Revision (SIR) drive—currently underway in Bihar and expected to expand to other states, including poll-bound Tamil Nadu and West Bengal next year.
“Infiltrators are snatching away the livelihood of the youth of my country. Infiltrators are targeting the sisters and daughters of my country. These infiltrators mislead innocent tribals and capture their land. This will not be tolerated,” PM Modi said.
In an apparent swipe at the Opposition, PM Modi said,”When demographic change takes place – especially in border regions – it creates a threat to national security. No country can hand itself over to infiltrators. No country in the world does this, so how can we allow it for India?”
Calling it a significant concern and a challenge for his administration, PM Modi stated, “Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, the country’s demography is being changed, seeds of a new crisis are being sown… So, we have decided to start a high-powered demography mission.”
Notably, this is not the first time the Prime Minister has raised alarm over the issue. During last year’s Jharkhand campaign, he framed it through the lens of roti, beti, and maati—a powerful slogan referring to jobs, women’s security, and the protection of tribal land rights. According to the BJP, unregulated illegal migration—particularly in opposition-ruled states—continues to erode these fundamental entitlements, hitting tribal and backward communities the hardest.
The concern is echoed by several BJP-led governments, especially in the Northeast. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has frequently warned of drastic demographic shifts in certain districts, where illegal migrants have become the majority and Hindu populations have dwindled. As a countermeasure, the Assam government has restricted land sales and acquisitions in specific districts without prior approval from the state.
To address the issue at a national scale, Modi announced the formation of a high-powered Demography Mission, which he said will tackle the problem head-on. The mission’s objective: to protect national interests, preserve social harmony, and safeguard the land and identity of India’s vulnerable communities.
The issue carries significant political weight in states like West Bengal, which heads to the polls next year and has long been at the center of the illegal migration debate. The BJP accuses the ruling Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, of turning a blind eye and enabling the political empowerment of infiltrators. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK government has openly opposed the voter verification drive, calling it discriminatory and politically motivated.
Meanwhile, in Parliament, the Monsoon Session has stalled amid opposition demands for a debate on the SIR and allegations of “dirty politics” by the NDA government. As tensions rise, the coming weeks may determine whether the Prime Minister’s Red Fort message can shift the national conversation—inside Parliament and across the country.
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