Centre to file affidavit in SC over Rohingya deportation decision
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said an affidavit will be filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court over its decision to deport illegal Rohingya immigrants back to Myanmar. This comes as the SC asked the Centre to clarify its stance after a petition challenged the government's deportation decision. Among other reasons, the petition argued India's Rohingya deportation decision violated international human right conventions.
On September 14, India agreed to provide humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh as the latter struggled to handle the influx of an estimated 3.79 lakh Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. The move came days after Bangladesh briefed India about the unprecedented burden it's facing because of the Rohingya crisis. India had earlier signaled its support for Myanmar over its much-criticized handling of the Rohingya issue.
The relief material being provided by India comprises of urgently needed supplies such as rice, pulses, sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, ready to eat noodles, biscuits, mosquito nets etc. The first consignment of aid "will be brought to Chittagong by an Indian Air Force plane on 14th September 2017," the Indian External Affairs Ministry (EAM) said. It said India "stands ready" to assist Bangladesh.
The 3.79 lakh Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar's alleged state-sponsored violence in the Rakhine state are facing starvation and are living in squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh. This has caused an unbearable additional burden for Bangladesh, which is already dealing with around four lakh Rohingyas who previously fled persecution in Myanmar. Bangladesh, a developing country, itself has a sizeable poverty-stricken population.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina has urged Myanmar to take back the Rohingya refugees. "My personal message is very clear that they should consider this situation with humanity because these people, the children, the women, they are suffering," she said. "These people belong to Myanmar, for 100 years or more they have stayed there. How can they deny they are not their citizens?"
India's decision to provide humanitarian assistance comes amid UN criticism over New Delhi's plans to deport an estimated 25,000 Rohingya refugees from its territory. Earlier this month, Indian PM Narendra Modi appeared to support Myanmar's stance on the issue during a visit to the country. India's humanitarian assistance would help alleviate the burden on Bangladesh, which has borne the brunt of the crisis.
