On Monday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh while chairing the 23rd meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council at state secretariat Nabanna in Kolkata reiterated his government’s commitment to deport illegal Rohingya immigrants. He also iterated the Central government’s advisory to states to identify illegal Rohingya immigrants so that India can employ diplomatic channels to deport them to Myanmar.
Home Minister told reporters, “States have been told to identify them (Rohingya). They have to take their biometrics also. After that, they will send a report to the Centre. Then the central government will initiate action through diplomatic channels with Myanmar and then we will get it resolved.”
Rajnath Singh made the statement standing right beside West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who is notorious for having soft corner for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and illegal Rohingya immigrants.
Rajnath Singh spoke in sync with the affidavit the home ministry had submitted in the apex court on the illegal Rohingya migrant issue, completely denied any possibility of giving Rohingyas refugee status.
The statement came a day after Indian Railways alerted authorities in Kerala about mass influx of Rohingyas in the state. Just few days back, a letter from the Principal Chief Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force which was directed to the various headquarters clearly mentions that a mass immigration of the illegal Rohingya immigrants is underway from north-eastern states to Kerala. The letter also mentioned train numbers along with the names of the train such as 12508 SCL-TVC Express, 22825 SHM-MAS Express amongst 14 others using which the largest known influx of illegal immigrants into Kerala is taking place.
The Rohingya crisis is a burning issue which has already taken a toll in many states across the country. The ethnic community has many radicalised elements which are a threat to civilian and national security. There have been many reports by Amnesty International and other organisations which speak of Rohingyas carrying out ethnic cleansing of Hindus and Buddhists in Rakhine province of Myanmar. Their mass influx into India will cause severe problems not just for the inhabitants’ livelihood but will also increase the burden on the respective state governments.
Jammu and Kashmir is an example of how the unchecked and unmonitored influx of illegal Rohingyas had created a change in demography of the region and had led to tense situations in Jammu region. The Rohingyas were also welcomed by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to settle in the state so as to increase her voter base and for her long-term goal of minority appeasement.
Rohingyas are a burden to India and the country is already facing a crunch of resources to meet the demands of its 1 billion plus population. Their radicalisation will pose further threats to the indigenous population of whichever states they are made to settle in and that is why Rohingyas must be deported to Myanmar as quickly as possible.