Rohingyas are a serious security threat, Centre tells Supreme Court

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 18, 2017: Amid a global outcry over the deplorable condition of Rohingyas - Myanmar’s ethnic minority Muslim community – the Centre on Monday filed its response in the Supreme Court on the issue of their deportation back to their homeland.

 

In its response, the Centre said ’’Rohingyas are a serious security threat’’ and sought more time to file a detailed response in this regard.

The apex court gave Centre time till October 3 to file its response to a bunch of petitions filed by the Rohingya Muslims opposing their proposed deportation to Myanmar.

The move comes in the wake of severe criticism from UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, who flayed any attempts by India to deport Rohingyas to Myanmar when the ethnic minority community is facing violence in their country.

Speaking at the opening of a Human Rights Council session, Zeid said, "I deplore current measures in India to deport Rohingyas at a time of such violence against them in their country."

However, reacting to UN human rights chief’s statement on attempts by New Delhi to deport Rohingyas to Myanmar, India said that they were concerned about illegal migrants posing security challenges.

India also said that there appeared to be "inadequate appreciation of the freedoms and rights that are guaranteed and practised daily in a vibrant democracy that has been built under challenging conditions."

"We are perplexed at some of the observations made by the High Commissioner in his oral update.  There appears to be inadequate appreciation of the freedoms and rights that are guaranteed and practised daily in a vibrant democracy that has been built under challenging conditions. Tendentious judgements made on the basis of selective and even inaccurate reports do not further the understanding of human rights in any society," India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Rajiv K Chander said.

"Like many other nations, India is concerned about illegal migrants, in particular, with the possibility that they could pose security challenges.  Enforcing the laws should not be mistaken for lack of compassion," he added.

Chander further said, "Tendentious judgements made on the basis of selective and even inaccurate reports do not further the understanding of human rights in any society."

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had said on on September 5 that Rohingyas were illegal immigrants and stand to be deported.

He had also pointed out that nobody should preach New Delhi on the matter as India absorbed the maximum number of refugees in the world.

Courtesy: Zeenews