Under right-wing pressure, India retracts from commitment to provide homes to Rohingya refugees

NEW DELHI (AA) – The Indian Home Ministry has denied that Rohingya refugees in the national capital New Delhi would be provided housing, hours after a top Indian minister announced that these refugees would be provided shelter, amenities, and police protection.

The ministry, describing Rohingya as “illegal foreigners,” said it has already taken up the matter of deportation to their concerned country.

India’s Federal Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri announced on the morning of August 17 that all Rohingya refugees will be shifted to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats located in the Bakkarwala area of Delhi.

“India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country,” he said, calling the decision a “landmark” move.

In the afternoon, a statement issued by Indian Home Ministry, however, contradicted Puri’s statement and said: “It is clarified that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi.”

The ministry said the government in New Delhi (governed by Aam Aadmi Party) proposed to shift the Rohingya to a new location.

“MHA has directed the Government of Delhi to ensure that the Rohingya illegal foreigners will continue at the present location at Kanchan Kunj, Madanpur Khadar as MHA has already taken up the matter of deportation of illegal foreigners with the concerned country through the Ministry of External Affairs,” it said.

It also said that illegal foreigners will be kept in detention centers till their deportation.

“The government of Delhi has not declared the present location as a detention center. They have been directed to do the same immediately,” the statement said.

The official who had announced facilities for the Rohingya had since faced criticism and even threats.

Hindu right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad said it is “shocked” to see the statement of Federal Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

The Islamophobic Hindu nationalist organization urges the government to reconsider this issue and to make an arrangement to send the Muslim refugees back instead of providing them with housing.

Puri had said that the Rohingya will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) identity cards, and round-the-clock police protection.

There are approximately 1,100 Rohingya living in New Delhi and they are residing in camps, colonies, and even rental accommodation.

Sabber Kyaw Min, another Rohingya representative in New Delhi, said that they have not held any discussion with the government regarding the issue.

“We don’t know much about the decision. We are praying it doesn’t turn out to be a detention center,” he said.

“Condition of Rohingya is extremely poor. They are living in miserable conditions. The government needs to work towards improving the lives of Rohingya,” he said.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya were killed and thousands of women and girls were raped when Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in Rakhine State in August 2017. More than 1.2 million Rohingya, described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted people, were forced to flee Myanmar.

There are about 40,000 Rohingya in India with 20,000 registered with the UN refugee agency. In the past, a number of Rohingya have been detained by the Indian authorities in several parts of the country under flimsy ‘terrorism’ suspicions.

Rohingya activists in India have been demanding New Delhi uphold commitments to human rights and democratic credentials.