New Delhi: No direction has been given to provide flats to Rohingyas in New Delhi, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified Wednesday afternoon.
The MHA statement came merely hours after Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri — quoting a media report — lauded the “landmark decision” by the government to shift the illegal migrants into flats meant for the economically weaker section (EWS).
The ministry further added that the Delhi government had submitted a proposal for shifting Rohingyas to a new location, but that was denied. The ministry was already working on the matter of their deportation, it said.
Early Wednesday, Puri tweeted the media report and affirmed the Rohingyas would be shifted to EWS flats in the Bakkarwala area of Delhi. They would be provided basic “amenities and round-the-clock protection”, he said.
However, the MHA memo said: “Govt of Delhi proposed to shift the Rohingyas to a new location. MHA has directed the GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) to ensure that the Rohingya illegal foreigners will continue at the present location as MHA has already taken up the matter of their deportation with the concerned country through MEA (Ministry of external Affairs).”
“Illegal foreigners are to be kept in Detention Centre till their deportation as per law. The Government of Delhi has not declared the present location as a Detention Centre. They have been directed to do the same immediately,” the statement said.
With respect to news reports in certain sections of media regarding Rohingya illegal foreigners, it is clarified that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi.
— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) August 17, 2022
Puri irked the Sangh Parivar by speaking in favour of a housing plan for the Rohingyas.
In a sharp reaction to his tweet, Vishva Hindu Parishad issued a statement saying the government should push Rohingyas out of “Bharat”, instead of housing them.
“We are shocked to see a statement of Sh. Hardeep Puri, the Union Minister for Urban Development, terming the Rohingyas as refugees and allotting to them the EWS flats in Bakkarwala, Delhi. We might remind Mr Puri the statement made by the Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah in Parliament on 10.12.2020 declaring that Rohingyas will never be accepted in India (Rohingya ko kabhi bhi sweekar nahi kiya jayega),” said Alok Kumar, the central working president of Vishva Hindu Parishad.
Adding that Rohingyas were “not refugees but infiltrators” and that this had been the consistent stand of the government, Kumar said: “The fact that Hindu refugees from Pakistan continue to live in abysmal, sub-human conditions in the Majnu-ka-Tila area of Delhi makes the bounty proposed to be conferred on the Rohingyas more deplorable. The VHP urges the Government of India to reconsider this issue and instead of providing the Rohingyas with housing, make arrangements to send them back and out of India.”
Minister left red faced
Early Wednesday, Puri highlighted a news report that said 1,100 Rohingyas staying in tents would be shifted to flats with basic facilities and security.
Lauding the decision, he tweeted: “India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country. In a landmark decision, all Rohingya refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi.
India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country. In a landmark decision all #Rohingya #Refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice protection. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/E5ShkHOxqE
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 17, 2022
“Those who made a career out of spreading canards on India’s refugee policy deliberately linking it to CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) will be disappointed. India respects and follows UN Refugee Convention 1951 & provides refuge to all, regardless of their race, religion or creed,” he added.
In his tweet, Puri tagged the Prime Minister’s Office and the Delhi Police that comes under the MHA.
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Source: The Print
