Who are the so-called “infiltrators”? Are they Muslims, Bangladeshis, or just political scapegoats? This episode of Facts & Figures with Hemant dives deep into one of the most controversial and misused political narratives in India — the “Bangladeshi infiltrator” issue.
 
As Bihar heads into elections, the BJP is once again playing the “illegal immigrant” card, targeting the Seemanchal region — especially the Sher Shahabadi Muslim community. With speeches calling them “Bangladeshi invaders” and “demographic threats,” the narrative aims to polarize voters on religious lines. But the facts tell a different story. Seemanchal doesn’t even share a direct border with Bangladesh, and no verified infiltration has been reported.
 
Through the story of Mukhtar Alam, a schoolteacher from Kishanganj whose lifelong friendship broke after hate-filled propaganda, the episode exposes how divisive rhetoric seeps into ordinary lives. It traces the roots of this campaign back to the 1970s Assam Movement, showing how the same playbook is being used again in Bihar — now backed by massive propaganda, AI-generated hate videos, and communal speeches by senior BJP leaders.