**Muslim Population Rise in India Attributed to Infiltration, Not Fertility: Amit Shah**
*By Snehil Singh | Oct 11, 2025, 02:20 PM*
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that the increase in India’s Muslim population is primarily due to large-scale infiltration rather than higher fertility rates. He made these remarks during the Narendra Mohan Memorial Lecture on “Infiltration, Demographic Change, and Democracy,” organized by *Dainik Jagran*.
### Population Dynamics and Infiltration
Highlighting data from the 2011 Census, Shah pointed out that Assam witnessed a 24.6% decadal growth in its Muslim population, while the Hindu population declined by 4.5%. Linking these demographic changes to infiltration, the Home Minister cited illegal crossings from Pakistan and Bangladesh as the main causes.
He recalled the historical context of the partition of India, which led to the creation of Pakistan on religious lines and, later, the formation of Bangladesh. According to Shah, infiltration from both sides has significantly altered the population composition in affected regions.
The Home Minister also brought attention to the sharp decline of tribal communities in Jharkhand, attributing this demographic change to infiltration from Bangladesh.
### Political Exploitation of Infiltrators
Shah criticized certain political parties for exploiting infiltrators as a vote bank. He questioned why infiltration is primarily highlighted along the Assam border and not along others, such as Gujarat and Rajasthan.
“Centre alone cannot stop infiltration. State governments also protect such infiltrators because some parties see a vote bank in them,” he stated.
### Defending Government Policies: CAA and Electoral Rolls Revision
Addressing concerns around the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Amit Shah clarified that the Act is not designed to take away citizenship from anyone but rather to grant it to refugees. He emphasized that there are no provisions in the law to deprive any community of their citizenship rights.
The Home Minister also defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling it a national rather than a political issue. Shah stressed the importance of excluding infiltrators from voter lists to ensure free and fair elections under the supervision of the Election Commission.
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Amit Shah’s statements reiterate the government’s stance on infiltration and demographic changes, framing them as critical issues affecting national security and democracy.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/politics/muslim-population-growing-due-to-infiltration-amit-shah/story
