West Bengal’s Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has stated that individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities who entered India from Bangladesh are strictly refugees, not illegal infiltrators. He clarified this position while referencing the provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Speaking at the inauguration of a digital census initiative in the state, Adhikari drew a sharp line between undocumented infiltrators and persecution-facing refugees.
He explained that under the Central Government’s framework and operational guidelines, members of these minority groups who sought sanctuary in India on or before December 31, 2014—escaping religious persecution or life-threatening hardship—will face no legal prosecution or police harassment.
In contrast, taking a firm stance against illegal entry, Adhikari emphasized that undocumented migrants already inside the country will be identified through due legal process and systematically repatriated. He affirmed that this screening and deportation mechanism will remain ongoing.
He further noted that India bears neither a moral nor a constitutional obligation to accommodate or support illegal infiltrators.
