Thiruvananthapuram: Senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan on Saturday urged the Kerala government to strictly enforce the newly passed Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, to curb the influx of illegal migrants into the state.
Speaking to reporters, Muraleedharan claimed that a significant number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were entering Kerala under the guise of guest workers and stressed that the law should be implemented without exception.
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday, with Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that India welcomes those arriving for business, education, and investment but will take stringent action against individuals who pose a security threat.
Muraleedharan alleged that illegal immigrants, masquerading as guest workers, were also contributing to the spread of narcotics in Kerala. He emphasized that enforcing the new law was essential for ensuring the safety and peaceful life of the state's residents.
Criticizing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), the former Union Minister described its approach to the issue as “disappointing.” He alleged that when Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in Aluva, Kochi, recently, a close associate of Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan had come to their defense. He further claimed that a Congress mandalam vice president was later arrested in connection with the case.
Calling the new bill a crucial step in combating drug abuse and terrorism, Muraleedharan urged both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress to support Kerala’s efforts against the drug menace rather than weakening them.
He also accused the UDF of attempting to shield Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter in an alleged illegal transaction case. Referring to the Kerala High Court’s recent ruling, he said the verdict proved the opposition front’s “cooperative stance” on the matter.
On Friday, the High Court dismissed a plea filed by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, which sought an investigation into the alleged financial transactions between Vijayan’s daughter's now-defunct IT firm and a private mining company.
With PTI inputs