Dhaka: A week after Indian parliament passed the historic Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has demanded that the Indo-Bangla border should be sealed as soon as the land pact is realised in order to check illegal migration from Bangladesh.

While welcoming the land swap pact, the latest editorial in the latest edition of RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ said, ‘Now with borders marked, it is time to address the issues pertaining to illegal migration.’

‘While Hindus are migrating in large numbers as refugees, Muslims are entering the neighbouring states as illegal migrants. This has been a bone of contention in Assam, to some extent in Meghalaya and largely in Paschim Banga’ the editorial added.

Accusing both the previous Left government and the incumbent TMC dispensation led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of not reining in the trend, RSS said, ‘The illegal migration and subsequent changes in demography have resulted in vote bank considerations surpassing national security concerns.’

With 5,000 Bangladeshis who had overstayed in India had been deported last year, External Affairs Ministry had ‘raised its concerns about the issue with the Bangladeshi counterparts in recent interactions’

Mentioning there are estimated 1.5 crore illegal Bangladeshis in India, RSS has expected ‘the land swapping deal will stop further infiltration’.

‘The obstacles in border management have to be ameliorated effectively.’

‘Effective fencing and empowerment of BSF are some of the measures which can be taken up immediately’.

The RSS alleged that in the four years of TMC rule, there have been more than 300 incidents of communal violence and rioting in Bengal and termed Mamata government's ‘lethargic response in these cases alarming’.

It also voiced concern over reducing population of Hindus in Bangladesh ‘on account of growing radicalisation’.

It cited Bangladesh Census data to make the point that ‘Hindus are slowly but surely vanishing from Bangladesh’.

Besides, it took a dig at the ‘secular voices in politics, academics and media for going deaf and dumb on such incidents (read attacks in Hindus) or try to give it a caste or class colour’.

‘Time has come to call spade a spade,’ the RSS said.

The RSS also highlighted the ‘plight of Hindus’ since Partition of Bengal in 1905.

The atrocities and forcible migration of Hindus continue till date from the erstwhile East Bengal, East Pakistan and now Bangladesh, it alleged.

RSS said, the landmark deal should be followed up with the illegal migration issue; otherwise, fearing in future India ‘will have to deal with another Jammu-Kashmir like imbroglio on the eastern border.’