On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the government was prepared to accept anyone who wanted to travel to India for business, education, healthcare, or tourism, but emphasized that those who presented a threat would face harsh consequences. He said this during a discussion on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which was approved by the Lower House, in the Lok Sabha.
Shah added that India was not a “dharamshala” (shelter home) and that the Narendra Modi-led government would only ban visitors with malicious intent. “Those who pose a threat to national security will not be allowed to enter the nation. The nation is not a ‘dharamshala’. If someone comes to the nation to contribute to the development of the nation, they are always welcome,” he said.
According to the Union Home Minister, the proposed law will improve the nation’s security, stimulate business and the economy, and support the education and health sectors. He also said the immigration bill would ensure the country gets up-to-date information about every foreigner visiting India.
Speaking about the problem of Rohingyas from Myanmar and Bangladeshis illegally entering India, Shah emphasized that the number of people fleeing to India for their own benefit had grown, rendering the nation dangerous. If infiltrators caused disturbance in India, he threatened to take harsh measures against them.
According to the Union Home Minister, the law would improve national security and contribute to India’s rise to the top of the global development rankings by 2047. “I want to assure the country that we will have up-to-date information about every foreigner coming to our country,” he said. “I welcome everyone who wants to visit India as a tourist, for education, for healthcare, for R&D, for business and so on. But those who comes as a threat to the country, we will keep a close look at them and take strong action against them,” he added.
Shah claimed that the 450 km of fencing work on the India-Bangladesh border was still unfinished because the West Bengal government had not provided land for it, accusing the Trinamool Congress-led government of failing to take strong action against illegal infiltration. “Whenever the process of fencing is done, the ruling party workers indulge in hooliganism and religious sloganeering. The fencing work of 450 km of border has not been completed because the West Bengal government is showing mercy to the infiltrators,” he said. “Out of around 2,200 km of land border area, only 450 km of area is left for fencing. But, the West Bengal government is not providing the land for the fencing work,” he added.
The Home Minister claimed that even after the national government sent 11 letters to the West Bengal administration and held seven rounds of discussions with state officials, the fencing project was still unfinished. “Illegal immigration is happening from that area only. The state government is ensuring Aadhaar cards for the infiltrators and they are spreading to different parts of the country,” he alleged. “Maximum number of illegal Aadhaar cards were found in South 24 Parganas. But, don’t worry, we will form the government in Bengal next year and the remaining area will be fenced,” he said.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, stipulates that anyone caught entering India or leaving the country with a falsified passport or visa faces a maximum seven-year jail sentence and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
In order to track overstaying immigrants, the proposed legislation also requires hotels, colleges, nursing homes, and other educational institutions to record information about foreigners.
Additionally, it states that any foreign national who violates any law, regulation, or order issued in accordance with it by entering any part of India without a valid passport or other travel document, including a visa, faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh, or both.
The Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939, the Foreigners Act of 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act of 2000 are now the four laws that govern matters pertaining to foreigners and immigration. It is currently suggested that all of these statutes be abolished.
