The issue of Rohingya refugees should be viewed through a “humanitarian angle”: CPI (M)

Days after 168 Rohingyas were detained by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, the CPI-M on Tuesday said that the issue of Rohingya refugees needs to be looked at through a humanitarian rather than political angle.

Regional Secretary CPI (M) Jammu Sham Prasad Saffron said that so far nothing adverse has been found against Rohingya refugees in the Union Territory and keeping in mind that the administration should deal with the issue on humanitarian grounds.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday detained and transferred 168 Rohingyas to a sub-jail in Kathua district after residing in Jammu city without valid documents.

The Rohingya Muslims are Bengalis who are a Muslim minority in Myanmar. After persecution in their country, many of them entered India illegally through Bangladesh and took refuge in Jammu and other parts of the country.

Several political parties and social organizations in Jammu have urged the Center to take immediate steps for the deportation of Rohingya and Bangladeshi citizens, alleging that their presence was a “conspiracy to change the demographic character” in the region and a “threat to peace” is.

According to government figures, more than 13,700 foreigners, including Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi nationals, have settled in Jammu and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, where their population has increased by more than 6,000 between 2008 and 2016.

The CPI (M) leader said in a statement in Jammu, “Jammu and Kashmir officials’ decision to send at least 168 Rohingya refugees to a holding center should be reviewed as the issue should be looked at from a humanitarian angle rather than a political one. “

Mr. Saffron said that after the persecution in his country, thousands of Rohingya entered India through Bangladesh and some of them also took refuge in Jammu.

“They were forced to leave their country and take temporary shelter in India and other countries to save their lives. Once the situation in their motherland improves, they should be asked to return.

However, he said that the situation in his homeland has not improved now and that it would be an “injustice” for him to force him to return to this turn.