Government’s stand on refugees remains ambiguous, especially on the Rohingyas
India's refugee policy remains confused and rudderless, to say the least. Often the ministry and the minister are at a cross purpose giving a red face to the government. An unnecessary controversy erupted over providing residential flats to the Rohingya refugees living in Delhi in the Bakkarwala area of Delhi. In fact, Hardeep Puri, minister for Housing and urban affairs tweeted several times on Wednesday morning flaunting the government's decision to provide the flats to the Rohingyas. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs in a press release reverted Minister's decision saying that all the Rohingya were illegal immigrants who were to be returned to their home country and that the refugees would continue to stay at their present location. The Home Ministry communique said that the Delhi government has been asked not to move the refugees who would remain in their present location. The MHA calls the present location of Rohingyas a’ detention center’ and Rohingyas ‘Illegal foreigners'. In fact, it went on to direct the government of Delhi to declare officially the present address of Rohingyas as a detention center. The MHA decision left him no choice but to chew his words. Puri had gone on to say that it was a landmark decision and that the refugees would be provided with the basic amenities, identity cards (issued by the UNHCR), and security.So the government raised the hopes of Rohingya refugees in the morning and dashed them by the evening.
Rohingyas made their way to India to escape the Myanmar Army's pogrom that has been termed by the UN as one of the worst genocide in history.In Delhi, After a mysterious fire broke out in the Okhla settlement of the Rohingyas, KalindiKunj area in New Delhi they were shifted to their present location. Curiously Rohingya refugee camps in India have witnessed four fires in 2021 alone. Between 2016 and 2021, 12 mysterious fires broke out in Rohingya camps. Most of these fires show a trend, they broke at night and were preceded by threats of eviction or bigotry but are blamed on the short circuit. Whether we should allow these refugees to live in our country is subject to debate and a policy decision of the government but till they are deported it is the duty of the government to provide them basic amenities and safety and security which are enshrined in the UN. Each individual even an illegal immigrant has the right to life and it is our duty to safeguard it, regardless.