Choreographed Demographic Alterations Driven by Political Motives, Aimed at Changing Geographies, Disrupt Social and Cultural Equilibrium : Jagdeep Dhankhar

The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said, “There are choreographed, well-structured, ill-designed alterations aimed at changing the makeup of certain geographies. Young friends, these calculated alterations in our demography are often driven by political or strategic motives that are certainly not wholesome for our nation. 

These disrupt our social and cultural equilibrium. Such menacing trends require vigilant monitoring and decisive action to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of Bharat. These are the most worrying trends. 

In contrast to slow and long term demographic shifts, which is usual, natural, demographic changes take place. They have to take place, but they are usually slow and long term. Natural demographic shifts occur gradually, deliberate and orchestrated changes in the demographic composition of certain regions pose a significant concern.”

Addressing the 65th and 66th Convocation Ceremony of the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the Chief Guest, Shri Dhankhar said, “Peace is quintessential, fundamental for survival of democracy. 

Never forget, peace is secured from a position of strength. Democracy can blossom and prosper only in peace that is earned through strength, effective security, economic resilience, internal harmony. 

History is proof of it. Invasions can be thwarted and peace secured only when we are ever ready for war. Bharat has sent a global message. No longer shall we tolerate terrorism. We will liquidate it and destroy the source of it. 

Peace is not absence of conflict. It is the presence of preparedness. Democracy is a delicate bloom in its fertile soil of security. Democracy cannot prosper if there is no security. The sunlight of economic opportunity and the steady reign of social harmony also require peace.”

On matters of security and national fortitude, Shri Dhankhar declared, “Without peace, democracy withers into fear, mistrust, and chaos. But let us not mistake peace for passivity. Lasting peace is never given it is earned and it is defended. 

A nation secures its borders by decisive policies, by being resilient in its economy then the nation becomes a fortress of peace. We have to emerge as a powerful military force in the region. Emergence of recent combinations that were decisively defeated by us we have to be ever cognizant of them. 

We must embrace the ancient wisdom. And mind you, India is a global treasure of knowledge because of our ancient scriptures. There is Shanti Mantra. If we believe in peace, the nation has never believed in expansion.”

Turning to a transformative governance reform, the Vice-President commended the Government of India’s decision, “The recent decision by the Government of India a game-changing decision, a milestone in governance is to include caste-based enumeration in the upcoming decadal census. 

This will be transformative. This will help us satisfy aspirations equitably to bring about equality and will be a decisive step towards social justice. This will also help us when data becomes available to enrich our understanding of inequalities. 

Because if inequalities are there, they generate and breed inequities. That is not the essence of governance. And therefore, these caste-based censuses, the data that will emanate, will guide us for targeted development.

Development will reach in sectors where it is needed. I can say with pride, institutions like IIPS are uniquely positioned to play a crucial, critical role in interpreting such data and proposing inclusive solutions.”

He warned of deeply concerning trends threatening Bharat’s social fabric, “Bharat faces alarmingly cliffhanging situations with respect to demographic shifts, driven by unchecked illegal migrants, coupled with another sinister mechanism alluring, manipulative conversions that distort our social fabric. 

These are not ordinary challenges. They are existential challenges that demand urgent, resolute, and effective national response. The time to act is now. Time to act with clarity and conviction, because this time bomb is ticking. 

We will have to demonstrate unwavering, unflinching, determined commitment to preserving the authenticity, the sanctity, and integrity of our civilization.” Highlighting the severity of orchestrated demographic interference, the Vice-President stated, “When demographic balances are manipulated not by organic evolution but by sinister orchestrated design, then it is no longer a question of migration it is a question of demographic invasion.

Bharat has suffered it. There are millions of illegal migrants. Can we suffer from them? We need people in this country who are committed to our civilisation, who believe in भारतीयता, who believe in our nationalism, who are prepared to lay down their lives for the nation.”

He raised the alarm on conversion-based strategies that fragment societal unity, “Equally disturbing, worrisome, of deep concern is the weaponization of faith through coerced or induced conversion. Where belief is replaced by inducement, every belief has to be voluntary, optional.

It is induced by Allurement! and choice by agenda. These are not isolated incidents. They erode social harmony, cultural coherence, and compromise of national security. Always remember, and Bharat is known in the world for this, democracies must be compassionate, but democracy cannot afford to be complacent.”

The Vice-President passionately called for authentic public dialogue rooted in India’s civilisational values, “Authentic discourse is our core civilisational value. We cannot have rhetoric. We cannot have jingoism. 

Public discourse has to be authentic. Our heritage, drawn from Upanishads and Dharmashastras, celebrates dialogue over dogma, restraint over rage. I am pained sometimes when dogma and rage prevail. 

Youngsters in the country, the youth of the country, and the future of the country have to play a critical role in making public discourse more rational, sensible, and in sync with our civilisational ethos. 

Authenticity of communication with the public is fundamental. There are some exceptions, like security aspects, but for the rest, it is non-negotiable. Let us reaffirm the soul of democracy resides in honest, sincere, upright, factually balanced and correct dialogue.”

On India’s inclusive spirit and civilisational ethos, he reflected, “Which nation in the world can boast of inclusive growth, inclusive life and harmony? The Hinduism majority deeply rooted in the civilisational spirit has never been guided by majoritarianism. 

People mistake it. Hinduism majority is not majoritarianism. These impulses are antithetical to us. And see the difference in other traditions across the world. Level of their intolerance, level of their fundamentalism. 

They determine the mission to control through demographic explosion. Expansionism has no place in Hinduism, no place in Sanatan. This is a thought because we seek not to conquer, but to coexist.”

In his concluding remarks, the Vice-President underscored the importance of population data for development, “Demography, democracy, and diversity. These three Ds define the soul of new bharat. 

These three pillars encapsulate the essence of India’s identity and aspirations. Demography represents the dynamic human capital that fuels the engine of progress. Democracy provides a robust framework for collective decision-making. 

In any other governance, there is no participation of the people in decision-making. Democracy, from that perspective, is unique. And diversity? India represents to the entire world what diversity is. 

We have a resplendent landscape, a spectrum of cultures, traditions, and perspectives that make our great ‘Bharat’ unique in the world. Understanding population dynamics, its growth, distribution, and composition, is fundamental to crafting policies that ensure sustainable development, economic growth, and social harmony. 

This aspect is critical for national security and harmony also. I know you are aware of the challenges. Your data will awaken those who need to address these challenges that have taken monstrous dimensions.”

Smt. Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt. of India, Shri Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of (Protocol & Marketing), Maharashtra, Prof. D.A. Nagdeve, Director & Sr. Professor(Addl. Charge), IIPS and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.