BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday issued a strong critique of the opposition INDI alliance, accusing it of prioritizing the rights of illegal immigrants over those of Indian citizens. His remarks come amid heated political debates around immigration and national security policies.
Addressing the issue, Poonawalla said, “It’s unfortunate that in the country, the INDI alliance discusses the rights of outsiders rather than Indians.” He emphasized that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government takes a firm stance on illegal immigration, focusing on identifying, removing, and deporting those residing unlawfully in the country.
Poonawalla contrasted this with the opposition’s position, alleging that the INDI alliance advocates for the protection of illegal immigrants. “On one hand, the BJP, NDA government calls for the identification of illegal people, removing them, and deporting them from the country; on the other hand, the INDI alliance says, ‘Protect illegal people, make them legal, make them normal,’” he said. According to him, this approach effectively undermines national security and threatens the rights of Indian citizens.
He further stated that whenever efforts are made to identify and deport illegal immigrants, the INDI alliance is quick to defend them. “When it comes to identifying illegal immigrants and deporting them, the INDI alliance comes to their defence,” he added.
Poonawalla framed the debate as a clear dichotomy between two opposing philosophies: “On one side is the NDA alliance, which wants to deport illegal immigrants and protect the rights of Indians, and on the other side is the INDI alliance, which is an alliance that protects illegal immigrants.”
His remarks underscore the deep political divide over immigration policies in India, with the ruling coalition emphasizing strict enforcement and the opposition calling for more protectionist measures for migrants. This debate remains a pivotal issue in the country’s broader discussions on security, citizenship, and social cohesion.
