Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, August 25, said India was “not a dharamshala” and asserted that only citizens have the right to live in the country, while calling illegal infiltration a threat to national security, the economy and demographic stability. He was speaking at the valedictory session of the Intelligence Bureau’s two-day National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference in New Delhi, attended by senior officials from central security agencies, state police forces and other institutions.
Shah said the government’s aim was to make India “infiltrator-free” within a short period and outlined the steps being taken towards stronger border management. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah said the government had visited all states sharing land borders over the past eight months and shared a “quadrangular” approach to border security with them. He also urged states to strengthen coordination between agencies and act against emerging security threats.
Strengthening Border Security
Addressing security officials, Shah said infiltration should not be viewed only as a law-and-order concern, arguing that it has wider implications for India’s “security, economy and demographic change”. He said the government’s campaign against infiltration would remain a priority and that states should play an active role in implementing the proposed border-security approach.
The Home Minister also stressed that those who are not Indian citizens can stay in the country only through legal channels and with the required government permission. His remarks came as the two-day conference brought together more than 850 participants, including the Union Home Secretary, senior security officials, heads of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations, state and Union Territory police chiefs, young police officers and domain experts.
Shah also placed infiltration within a larger discussion on India’s evolving internal-security landscape. He said security planning must account for global instability, energy and resource insecurity, supply-chain disruptions, rising radicalisation and cyber misinformation. He called on security agencies to look 15–20 years ahead, identify possible threats and develop strategies before they become major challenges. The Home Minister further directed state police forces to implement the Narcotics Control Vision Document 2026–2029 and follow a “three Ds” approach — Detect, Disrupt and Destroy — to tackle drug networks. He also highlighted the government’s efforts to bring fugitives back from abroad, stating that around 274 fugitives had been brought to India between 2019 and 2026.
Context Behind Remarks
Shah’s latest comments are not the first time he has used the “dharamshala” analogy while discussing illegal immigration. On March 27, while responding to a debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, he had similarly argued in Parliament that India could not allow people to enter and stay without legal authorisation. At the time, he also said those who entered India legally and contributed to the country’s prosperity were welcome, while illegal entrants would be dealt with according to law.
The latest remarks also come against the backdrop of the government’s broader focus on border surveillance, illegal migration and internal security. The Ministry of Home Affairs said Shah had visited all land-border states during the previous eight months as part of consultations on border security.
At the NSS Conference, he also credited state police forces, central agencies and the Central Armed Police Forces for what he described as progress against three major internal-security challenges: Naxalism, terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, and insurgency in the Northeast. He called for greater use of integrated databases and artificial intelligence to help young police officers identify patterns, develop actionable intelligence and anticipate future threats.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Border security and the enforcement of immigration laws are legitimate responsibilities of any government, and preventing unlawful entry can be important for national security and effective administration. At the same time, conversations around infiltration and migration affect real people — including families, workers, refugees and communities whose circumstances can be complex and varied.
Strong enforcement should therefore go hand in hand with due process, clear legal distinctions and respect for human dignity. The use of broad labels should not allow individuals to be treated as threats solely because of their identity, nationality or place of origin. India’s security can be strengthened while preserving its long-standing values of constitutional rights, fairness and compassion. As the government moves towards its stated goal of an “infiltrator-free” India, how can the country ensure that stronger border enforcement also remains humane, lawful and sensitive to those caught in difficult circumstances?
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