Amit Shah: Border Area Demographic Changes a ‘Plan,’ Threaten Security
NEW DELHI, India – August 26, 2025:According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, India’s border areas are experiencing population changes that aren’t natural. He believes this plan directly puts the country at risk. At the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) workshop opening, Shah asked district collectors to take the matter seriously. He also wants all unauthorized religious buildings within 30 kilometers of the borders gone, mentioning worries about national security.
Talking About the Vibrant Villages Programme
Shah spoke at a two-day New Delhi workshop about the VVP, a government plan to grow and populate India’s border villages. The plan hopes to stop people from leaving, make sure everyone gets government help, and turn these villages into strong points for national security. Shah stressed that reversing migration is key to fixing the population shifts.
The Home Minister praised the Gujarat government for its good job in removing many unauthorized structures along its sea and land borders. He said everyone in border districts should do the same, stressing that these structures threaten security.
Illegal Immigration and Encroachments
Shah didn’t name anyone, but people think he’s talking about worries over illegal immigration and how it changes the population in border states. The government has said before that these population shifts are part of a plot to change India’s society.
This isn’t the first time a government leader has brought this up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also talked about it during his Independence Day speech, when he said he’d create a ‘High-Power Demography Mission’ to fight this threat.
Focus on Border Security and Growth
Shah’s speech showed the government’s plan for border management: keep things safe and help the areas grow. He wants district collectors and chief secretaries to work with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to help border villages become self-sufficient and lively.
He said the CAPFs and the army should buy their daily supplies from these villages. This would create jobs, reduce migration, and increase the population in these important areas.
Political and Social Situation
The Home Minister’s and Prime Minister’s comments come during a big political argument about illegal immigration and how it affects border states, specifically in the northeast and the Seemanchal area of Bihar. Opposition parties often say these comments are meant to divide voters and create fear.
Those who agree with the government say population changes in border areas are a real threat to national security. They think it’s not just about numbers but about the chance that hostile countries could use illegal immigrants to cause trouble in India. They see the government’s efforts to protect and invest in these areas through programs like VVP as needed to protect the country.
