New Delhi: Amidst concerns regarding illegal infiltrators in several Indian states, the Delhi Lt Governor has asked the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Chief Secretary of the government of Delhi-NCT, to take immediate action against the illegal immigrants in the national capital. Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena’s office, on Thursday, directed the Delhi Chief Secretary, The Commissioner of Police (CP) and other senior officials to intensify “monitoring of illegal immigrants” in the national capital. A letter from the Delhi LG’s office claimed that there are “reliable reports” of a “sudden spurt” in the number of illegal immigrants who are falsifying documents to obtain Aadhar and voter identification cards.

The LG secretariat wrote to the top officials of Delhi, including the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and chairperson of New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to ensure that remedial measures are taken, and asked the police to conduct a month-long drive to identify illegal immigrants. 

“Hon’ble LG’s attention has been drawn to reports on social media and other reliable sources that there is a sudden spurt in the number of illegal immigrants in Delhi… There are reports that efforts are underway for getting their identity documents such as Aadhar, Election ID Card, etc, prepared on the basis of fake documents and adopting a manipulative process,” stated the principal secretary to the LG in the letter, which added that these documents are being claimed as citizenship documents.

“Election identity cards, if issued to illegal immigrants, provide them with the most powerful right of democracy i.e. right to vote in our country. Giving such rights to illegal immigrants cannot be accepted by any Indian citizen and such moves can even be detrimental to national security,” added the letter.

The LG’s office urged the police to conduct a month-long drive to identify illegal immigrants, especially among squatter populations, and act in coordination with central agencies. Additionally, it called for heightened scrutiny by district magistrates and divisional commissioners when verifying applications for identity documents.

“All government agencies should also ensure that no unauthorised occupation of public places takes place anywhere in the city as directed by the Supreme Court,” the letter added.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) was using the issue of illegal immigrants for political gains ahead of the assembly election in Delhi.

“A thorough investigation should be launched on how illegal immigrants are entering our country in the first place… If there are illegal immigrants, how many are there? This is a massive failure, and the lack of action on detentions highlights it further,” a Delhi government spokesperson said.

He added that on one hand, the BJP is granting citizenship to illegal immigrants, and on the other, it is staging a “farce investigation”.