New Delhi, Nov 7: In September, the Narendra Modi government took a firm stand on the deportation of Rohingya refugees staying in various parts of the country. The Centre in its affidavit to the Supreme Court stated that the Rohingya Muslims are "illegal" immigrants in the country and their continued stay posed "serious national security ramifications".
"It is submitted that continuance of Rohingyas' illegal immigration into India and their continued stay in India, apart from being absolutely illegal, is found to be having serious national security ramifications and has serious security threats," the affidavit filed by the ministry of home affairs said.
However, a month later in October, the Supreme Court said the Rohingya refugee problem was of a "great magnitude" and the state would have to play a "big role" in striking a balance between national interests and human rights while dealing with the contentious issue.
The apex court, which decided to give a detailed and "holistic hearing" from November 21 on the government's decision to deport Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, observed that a balance has to be struck between national interest and human rights as the issue involved national security, economic interests and humanity.
According to an estimate at least 40,000 Rohingyas are staying in various parts of India. The Centre's decision to deport the Rohingyas has come at a time when the Rohingyas in large batches are fleeing from Myanmar to Bangladesh since violence broke out in Rakhine State on August 25.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that 622,000 Rohingya refugees have taken shelter in Bangladesh in more than two months. Hasina also asked Commonwealth countries to pressurise Myanmar to take back its "Rohingya citizens".
As India is trying to maintain a balance in the entire issue by avoiding antagonising neither Myanmar nor Bangladesh has sent aid for Rohingyas staying in refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.
Recently, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was in Dhaka and urged the international community to handle the situation with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population. "It is clear that normalcy will only be restored with the return of the displaced persons to Rakhine State."
Amid all these developments, it seems India's stand on the deportation of Rohingyas is likely to change.
According to reports, foreign secretary S Jaishankar is understood to have told the members of a parliamentary panel in the national capital on Monday that India is in touch with Myanmar and Bangladesh on the issue of Rohingya Muslims.
The foreign secretary told the panel that the government was keeping a close watch on the Rohingya issue and was examining the matter through humanitarian prism, said a member present in the meeting.
India was in touch with both Myanmar and Bangladesh over the situation arising out of the crisis, another member quoted Jaishankar as saying.
Things will become clear whether India would decide to deport Rohingyas or not once the Supreme Court on November 21 take up various petitions both for and against the refugees.
OneIndia News
