New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which seeks to modernise the migration law, with regards to passport, travel documents, visa and registration.
Replying in the Lok Sabha on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Those who pose a threat to the national security will not be allowed to enter the nation."
He further said, "The nation is not a 'Dharamshala'...If someone comes to the nation to give their contribution to the development of the nation, they are always welcome."
The bill was originally introduced by Minister of State (MoS) Home Affairs Nityanand Rai who clarified saying, “We are not bringing this law to stop anyone from coming to India.”
"Whether it is the Rohingyas or Bangladeshis, if you are here to disrupt peace, strict action will be taken. That is why we need both flexibility and firmness in this Bill," he noted.
The Bill repeals and replaces the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000, and three pre-independence laws, the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1936.
Highlighting the importance of the Bill, Amit Shah said, "The bill holds significance for strengthening national security, ensuring global standards of Indian universities and building foundations for research and development".
"Immigration is not an isolated issue. For the security of India, we must know who is entering our country, for how long and for what reasons. These concepts are not new; such rights have been mentioned in various laws, and we have now integrated them," he said.
Amit Shah noted that the bill paves the way for making the country's education system accepted across the world... and asserted that it helps to make this country number one in the world in 2047.
"We have a long history of welcoming and protecting immigrants. Due to past invasions, many Persian refugees migrated to India and are now safe. India has been a sanctuary for the world’s smallest minorities, offering them a place to live with dignity," he added in Lok Sabha.
Initiating the debate, Congress MP Manish Tewari opposed the bill, alleging that the bill is against the Constitution.
He said, Immigration officers have been given power, which can lead to harassment of people.
Tewari stressed on the need to bring in safeguard provisions in the bill and demanded that the bill be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for more scrutiny.
Kanimozhi of DMK alleged that the Bill will endanger Indians’ interests abroad. She also alleged that the Bill will affect over 19,000 Sri Lankan families living in Tamil Nadu in rehabilitation camps for over 30 years.
The Bill does not understand the plight of refugees, she added.
UNI JA SS