Rohingyas Are Illegal Immigrants, Not Refugees: Rajnath Singh

“No Rohingya has applied for asylum. They are illegal immigrants,” said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Rohingya children in a refugee camp.

(Photo:Reuters)

The Rohingyas are illegal immigrants and not refugees who had applied for asylum in India, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on 21 September.

Addressing a seminar organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Singh asked why some people were objecting to the deportation of Rohingyas when Myanmar was ready to accept them.

Rohingyas are not refugees. They have not come here after following proper procedures. No Rohingya has applied for asylum. They are illegal immigrants.

Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister

Singh also said that India would not violate any international law by deporting Rohingyas as it was not a signatory to the UN Refugees Convention of 1951.

The NHRC recently issued a notice to the Centre over its plan to deport Rohingyas, who are residing in various parts of India.

According to the Commission, from the human rights angle its "intervention is appropriate" in the matter.

The Centre on 18 September filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on a plea against the deportation of Rohingya refugees from India. It told the court that the total number of “such illegal immigrants” would be more than 40,000.

Several Union Ministers, as well as Ministers in the Assam government, have in the past said that Rohingyas are illegal immigrants in India and will have to leave the country.

The Centre again reiterated its stand on Rohingyas, terming their stay as “illegal” and told the court that they pose a serious threat to national security.

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