After the High Court's rebuke on the PIL filed regarding Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand's Santhal area, the Central Government has filed its affidavit. In its affidavit, the Central Government has clearly admitted that a big change has been seen in Santhal in the last few years. Explaining the current conditions of Santhal, the Centre has said that the number of tribals has decreased rapidly in the last decade. Earlier the number of tribals in Santhal was 44% which has now decreased to 28%.

The Central Government has further said that Santhal includes not only infiltration but also conversion and migration. The Centre told the High Court that the state government itself is violating the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act in Santhal. People from outside are coming to Santhal. Infiltrators are being given protection so that they can infiltrate the land of the tribals. A large number of tribal lands are being usurped through gift deeds. 

It is worth noting that UIDAI has also filed its reply on behalf of the Centre. They said that Aadhaar can never be the basis of citizenship. It is valid only as a unique identification. The central government has stated the need to implement NRC here, looking at the entire situation of Santhal. It has been said in the affidavit of the central government that in the last few days, the number of madrasas in Santhal has also increased significantly. Most of the madrasas have been built in the border districts of Sahibganj and Pakur. Along with this, the Center has also informed us that we have ways to identify the infiltrators and send them back. But this is not possible without implementing NRC.

Earlier, last week the Centre told the Jharkhand High Court that the growing presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Santhal Pargana area of the tribal state is alarming.

Appearing for the Centre as the High Court took up a PIL on the issue, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who joined the court proceedings virtually, had said that the demography of the area is changing due to infiltration from Bangladesh. The decline in the percentage of tribal population is a serious issue, he said.

He had said, Infiltrators can enter other states also through Jharkhand and affect the population there. The central government will soon file a comprehensive reply in the court after consultation with all stakeholders — IB and the BSF.