Utkal Reporter Bureau
Bhubaneswar|21 September 2017
On Rohingyas, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that”Rohingyas are illegal migrants’, as a sovereign nation India is free to take action against them. The Home Minister today justified the Government of India’s plan for deportation of Rohingya as a matter of India’s policy.
The minister said, those who, in the name of human rights, are expressing concern on the rights of others should bother first for the rights of the citizens of India. The citizens of the country have the first right on its resources and not the illegal migrants.
He made this remark while addressing a seminar of National Human Right Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi today where he posited that.Rohingyas are illegal migrants; they are not refugees for which a process is required to be completed, which they never followed.
He said that the Government is very clear on the issue of deportation of Rohingyas.and to this effect has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court.
India is not a signatory to International Laws on Refugees or to the UN Refugee Convention 1951, hence, the question of its violation does not arise. The principle of non-refoulement would apply to Rohingyas only if, they were given asylum in India, said Mr.Rajnath Singh.
He also stated that the concept of Human Rights in the centuries old Indian ethos is rooted in peace, unlike the West where it shaped up with conflict post- World War-II.
The concept of protection of Human Rights in India is linked with the wellbeing of the whole universe, wherein all elements live in mutual coexistence peacefully. This, he said, reflects even in our spiritual and divine invocations. He added, the Government of India has extended aid to Bangladesh for the welfare of Rohingyas there.
He said that there is some hope as the State Counseller of Myanmar Ms Aung Saan Suu Kyi has agreed to take back the Rohingyas.
Rohingyas are the ethnic minirities based in Rakhines state in Myanmar. They are Muslims escaping to the neighbouring countries for their life from the military violence in their native land.
As per an affidavit of the Indian Government there are about 40,000 Rohingyas living in India now. Citing security threat the government of India is planning to deport them.This plan of the government has triggered controversy in India.
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