Amit Shah Says India Is Not a ‘Dharamshala’, Stresses Action Against Infiltration and Stronger Internal Security

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said India is “not a dharamshala” and that only citizens have the right to live in the country. He described infiltrators as a threat to national security, the economy and demographic balance, and said the government’s aim is to make the country free of infiltrators in a short period.

Shah was speaking at the valedictory session of the Intelligence Bureau’s ninth National Security Strategies Conference in New Delhi. The two-day meeting brought together more than 850 officials from central security agencies, state police forces and related institutions.

Union home minister Amit Shah had made similar remarks in Lok Sabha on March 27 while replying to the debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. (@AmitShah/X) | Hindustan Times

Border Security and Coordinated Action with States

The Home Minister said that over the past eight months he had visited all states sharing land borders and shared a document outlining a four-pronged approach to border security with the states. The objective, he explained, is to strengthen border management and address illegal entry through closer coordination between the Centre and the states.

He linked stronger internal security to India’s longer-term development goals, arguing that a robust security apparatus is essential if the country is to emerge at the forefront in various fields. He placed this task against a backdrop of global instability, energy and resource insecurity, supply-chain disruptions, rising radicalisation and the spread of cyber misinformation.

Criminal Justice Reforms and New Laws

Shah set a one-year deadline for full implementation of the three new criminal laws. He said this would help ensure that criminal cases can be disposed of up to the Supreme Court within three years and raise the conviction rate by about 25 per cent.

He also referred to the creation of an integrated data bank linking systems such as the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems, the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System, NatGrid and the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Young officers, he said, should use data integration, analysis and artificial intelligence to develop actionable intelligence and anticipate future challenges.

Campaign Against Narcotics

The Home Minister directed state police forces to implement the Narcotics Control Vision Document for 2026-2029 on the ground. He called for a coordinated approach based on detecting, disrupting and destroying drug networks, with the aim of working towards a drug-free India. The fight against narcotics, he stressed, must involve the central government and every department of every state government.

Looking Ahead on Internal Security

Shah credited state police forces, central agencies and the Central Armed Police Forces with progress in addressing challenges in key internal security areas. He urged security forums to look ahead 15 to 20 years, identify emerging problems early and prepare strategies to prevent them from becoming major threats.

The conference also discussed real-time intelligence-sharing against terror groups and efforts to dismantle their logistics and funding networks. Shah has used similar language on infiltration on earlier occasions, including during the Lok Sabha debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill in March 2025, when he argued that those who enter legally to contribute to the country’s prosperity are welcome, while illegal entrants would be dealt with strictly.

The MGMM Outlook 

India’s internal security framework is increasingly being shaped by a stronger emphasis on coordinated border management, intelligence-sharing and decisive action against illegal infiltration. The message that only lawful citizens have the right to reside in the country reflects a broader commitment to protecting national security, maintaining demographic stability and ensuring that India’s borders remain secure through close cooperation between the Centre and the states.

At the same time, the focus on implementing the new criminal laws, integrating advanced data-driven policing systems and intensifying the nationwide campaign against narcotics signals a long-term approach to security reforms. Strengthening institutions, embracing technology and preparing for emerging threats are being positioned as essential steps toward building a safer, more resilient and future-ready India.

(Sources: Hindustan Times, Moneycontrol, News18)