New Delhi: Reiterating the national security threat from unnatural demographic change, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced the constitution of a five-member committee led by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar to address infiltration-related issues.
“Infiltration and other reasons causing unnatural demographic change pose a very significant challenge to the present and future of any nation,” Union Minister Shah said on social media platform X.
“To address this very challenge, on August 15, 2025, Prime Minister @narendramodiji had announced the ‘High-Level Committee on Demographic Change’. I am delighted to inform you that the government has now constituted this committee,” he added.
He said the Justice Naolekar Committee will analyse patterns of abnormal population shifts at the levels of religious and social communities and present a planned and time-bound solution for the demographic change.
This committee, chaired by Justice Naolekar (retired), will include Census Commissioner along with Durga Shankar Mishra (retired IAS), Balaji Srivastava (retired IPS), and Shamika Ravi as members, he said, adding that the Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I) of Ministry of Home Affairs Sumant Singh will serve as the Member Secretary of this committee.
The Union Minister said, “Demographic change is a serious issue linked not only to our sovereignty but also to national security, law and order, profound changes in social structure, and the preservation of tribal society.”
“This committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes occurring across India due to illegal immigration and other unnatural causes, analyse patterns of abnormal population shifts at the levels of religious and social communities, and present a planned and time-bound solution for the same,” he added.
The constitution of the Committee assumes significance in light of the infiltration issue dominating the political discourse ahead of the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cornered the then Mamata Banerjee government on this issue and managed to defeat the Trinamool Congress and came to power with an absolute majority in West Bengal.
IANS
Punjab civic polls see clashes, allegations of voter intimidation
Chandigarh: Amid reports of skirmishes, clashes, and allegations of attempts to influence voters and intimidate Opposition workers, nearly 61 per cent voting was recorded till 5 p.m. for Punjab’s civic...
Akhilesh bats for Rahul Gandhi’s claim of Union government falling in a year
New Delhi: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's recent claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government will fall within a year found support from...
TN: AIADMK alleges ‘horse-trading’ by TVK govt
Chennai: The political confrontation between the ruling TVK government and the opposition AIADMK intensified on Tuesday, with the AIADMK accusing the government of actively encouraging political defections and engaging in...
AIADMK crisis deepens as another MLA resigns from party, set to join TVK
Chennai: In a further setback for the AIADMK amid growing internal turmoil, its Ambasamudram MLA Esakki Subbaiah on Tuesday resigned from the Assembly, becoming the fourth party legislator to step...
Cong criticises BJP over UCC move in Assam, calls it ‘step-by-step agenda’
New Delhi: The Congress party on Tuesday criticised the BJP over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), alleging that the ruling party’s larger agenda is to implement the UCC across the...
Three AIADMK MLAs resign, join TVK
Chennai: In a fresh political development that could reshape Tamil Nadu’s post-election landscape, three AIADMK MLAs — Madurantakam MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, Dharapuram MLA Sathyabama, and Perundurai MLA Jayakumar — resigned...
‘Need of the hour’, says Himanta Sarma as govt tables UCC Bill in Assam Assembly
Guwahati: Assam’s push towards implementing UCC gathered momentum on Monday as the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, was tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly by state Minister Atul Bora...
In-principle understanding reached with Centre, say Ladakh groups
New Delhi: The Centre has proposed a fresh framework aimed at granting Ladakh greater legislative, financial and administrative authority within the existing Union Territory structure, according to a joint statement...
ECI announces Rajya Sabha polls for 24 seats in 10 states on June 18
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced the schedule for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill 24 seats, which are falling vacant...
AIADMK faces fresh jolt as former Speaker Dhanapal quits party, cites ‘neglect’
Chennai: The AIADMK suffered another setback on Thursday as party veteran and former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal announced his exit from the party, citing a lack of recognition...
TN cabinet expansion: 23 ministers inducted; two from Congress take oath
Chennai: The C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government on Thursday carried out its first major Cabinet expansion, inducting 23 new ministers into the Council of Ministers in a move aimed...
Kerala CM Satheesan keeps key portfolios as UDF finalises ministerial allocations
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan has retained the plum portfolios of Finance, Law and Ports in the 21-member United Democratic Front (UDF) ministry, whose portfolio allocation was...
