Two days before Delhi went to polls earlier this month, an interim report on illegal immigrants in the capital — and how they were altering its demography — was released. The report, penned by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professors, was titled ‘Illegal Immigrants to Delhi: Analysing Socio-Economic and Political Consequences.’
The same day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra cited the report in a press conference, claiming that it proved there was a “notable increase in the Muslim population due to illegal migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar.” He alleged that “political patronage” from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had enabled this influx.
Media reports rushed to run debates on the “findings,” without questioning the methodology or timing of the report. Two days later, Delhi cast its votes. The BJP secured a historical victory, and the “report” disappeared from the headlines.
Curiously, a similar report – with the same title except for the city’s name — had been published by professors at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) three months earlier, just before the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Both the reports were released in their interim stages, before completion. Both relied on small samples and faced academic criticism for their methodology, funding, and motives. And in both instances, BJP leaders were quick to weaponise them as political tools in upcoming elections.
“This is a clear example of how establishments are using institutes of higher learning to create some kind of credibility and legitimacy for their propaganda. It also shows that there are people in the institute who don’t mind compromising on academic freedom and integrity.”
A TISS professor who did not want to be named
A Political Pattern
In both cases, BJP leaders cited the reports almost immediately after their release.
The TISS study was presented at a seminar on 5 November. On 9 November, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya referenced the report in a video, reinforcing the party’s slogan for the Maharashtra elections, “Ek hai toh safe hai” (If we are united, we are safe). He claimed that the Hindu population in Mumbai would decrease to 54 percent by 2051.
This story was originally published in thequint.com. Read the full story here.
