* Illegal immigrants may be shifted out of States
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 13: On his return to the Union capital after four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today discussed Jammu and Kashmir situation and security threat from Rohingyas all over the country including J&K and the roadmap ahead on deportation of illegal immigrants to their countries.
Top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs including Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba, who also accompanied the Home Minister to Jammu and Kashmir visit, were present at the meeting that reportedly lasted two hours to devise strategy on illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh amid reports that more Rohingyas were waiting for an opportunity to sneak into India after fresh unrest in Myanmar.
Sources told the Excelsior the Government was unanimous that illegal immigrants could become security threat to the country and, therefore, they have to be deported but for that the Centre was working out modalities including taking the Myanmar Government into confidence.
Pending deportation, sources said, the Government of India was mulling the idea of setting up refugee camps on the borders of some States to confine the immigrants at one place to keep strict vigil on them before deportation to their country.
“This way, the illegal immigrants will remain under strict surveillance and the States, where they have been putting up, would not complain about change of their demographic character,” sources said, adding that this would be a temporary phenomenon and the Government would expedite process by taking up matter with Myanmar and Bangladesh for deportation of their citizens, who had illegally crossed into India and were staying at different places, leading to resentment among the local people.
The MHA has estimated that there were total of 40,000 Rohingyas living illegally in the country including around 6500 to 7000 in Jammu and all Intelligence agencies have pointed out that they could become security threat in the country following attempts by some militant groups to radicalize the youth among the immigrants.
“A final decision on roadmap ahead for deportation of Rohingyas would be taken shortly,” sources said, adding that the Government of India was going to open up channels with their counterparts in Myanmar to take back Rohingyas, who have illegally infiltrated into India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has last week visited Myanmar and met top leadership of the country.
Apart from the issue of Rohingyas, the Union Home Minister also discussed the feedback obtained during his four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and more steps required to keep militancy and unrest under complete control.
Asserting that a number of decisions have been taken by the Home Ministry based on the feedback gathered by Rajnath and top MHA officials during their four-day stay in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said the Government was firm that there would be no let-up in ‘Operation All Out’ launched against militants by the security forces. At the same time, the Government also proposed to act tough against Pakistan, which has been indulging in repeated ceasefire violations on both Line of Control (LoC) as well as International Border (IB).
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told a news channel this morning that Rohingya nationals have to be deported back to their country.
“The Government is firm. It’s our right to see whether we can allow the illegal immigrants in the country or not. But if our security is threatened then definitely, we can’t allow Rohingyas to stay here for long. They will have to be pushed back,” Ahir, who had recently visited Jammu and directed the authorities to prepare list of Rohingyas putting up here, said.
Sources said the Government has been briefed by the Intelligence agencies about “very specific and credible inputs” that Rohingyas could fall into trap of the militants if they were allowed to stay long in any of the State.
“In view of this, the Government was expected to come up with a concrete decision on deportation of Rohingyas shortly,” sources said.
Meanwhile, Rohingyas today protested outside Myanmar Embassy in New Delhi against their deportation to their country saying they feel threatened there and should be allowed to stay here till peace returns to their nation.
Immediately after the protest by Rohingyas, the BJP workers also took out counter protest demanding immediate deportation of Rohingyas back to Myanmar.
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