India is not Dharamshala, says Home Minister Amit Shah; Immigration Bill passed by Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha approved the Immigration Bill on Thursday. Following this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress. He said that those who come to India for business, education and investment will be welcomed, but those who pose a threat to the security of the country will have to face strict action. He also clarified that India is not a Dharamshala (lodge).

He was replying to the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha. While talking about infiltration along the India-Bangladesh border, he criticized the Trinamool Congress in scathing language. He added that the BJP will end its infiltration in West Bengal after the assembly elections in 2026.

"Immigration is not a separate issue. The country's problems are also related to it. It is very important to know who is entering the country's borders as part of national security. We will keep a close watch on those who endanger the country's security. Those who pose a threat to national security will not be allowed to enter the country. The country is not a Dharamshala. If someone comes to the country to contribute to the development of the country, they are always welcome," he said. He also alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government, which is issuing Aadhaar cards to Bangladeshis, is not allocating land for fencing the border.

"The fencing work along a 450-km stretch is stalled because the West Bengal government has not provided land for fencing. Whenever the fencing process is going on, the ruling party workers show hooliganism and raise religious slogans. The fencing work there is not completed because the West Bengal government is showing mercy to the infiltrators,” he said.

“Whether it is Bangladeshi infiltrators or Rohingyas, when the Congress was in power earlier, they used to come to India through Assam. Now they are entering India through West Bengal. Who is giving them Aadhaar cards and citizenship? All the Bangladeshis caught have Aadhaar cards from 24 Parganas district. BJP will form the government in West Bengal in 2026. Then we will end this,” he added.

Shah said that during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people from six oppressed communities from neighbouring countries were seeking refuge in the country through the CAA. “India is a geo-cultural nation. Not a geo-political nation. Persians came to India. Today they are safe in the country. The world’s smallest minority community is safe only in India. Jews who fled from Israel came and settled in India,” he said.

The bill was passed by Parliament by voice vote. Although opposition members raised several suggestions, none of them were considered. The proposed legislation aims to streamline immigration and various services related to foreigners. It covers their entry, exit and stay in India.

It is currently governed by the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 and the Foreigners Act, 1946.

While Indian visas of all categories are issued to foreigners by Indian embassies or posts abroad in physical or sticker form, the Bureau of Immigration issues electronic visas in seven categories to people from 167 countries.

In addition, the immigration authorities are also granting visa-on-arrival at six designated airports to citizens of three countries: Japan, South Korea and the UAE (previously only for UAE citizens who had obtained e-visas or regular or paper visas).

Opposition MPs alleged that some provisions of the bill give arbitrary powers to the immigration authorities. They also demanded that the bill be sent to a joint parliamentary committee for detailed scrutiny.