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Namrata Biji Ahuja
Namrata Biji Ahuja

affidavit controversy

'Security threat' posed by Rohingyas laid bare in MHA internal communication

MYANMAR-ROHINGYA/PROTESTS-MALAYSIA (File photo) Representational image

Despite criticism from human rights groups, the Union government is likely to stick to its stand of a "national security" threat posed by Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Under preparation is an affidavit of the government likely to be submitted in the Supreme Court as early as Friday.

A copy of the home ministry's internal communication was inadvertently supplied to an advocate in Supreme Court and withdrawn later. A home ministry spokesperson said the ministry is yet to file it's affidavit on the issue and it is being finalised. But the cat was already out of the bag as the said document led to an 'affidavit controversy' late Thursday evening with the papers being seen as an MHA affidavit in the apex court on the matter.

The MHA internal communication did not leave any stone unturned in making out its case for deportation of Rohingyas.

The foreigners division of MHA said in this internal communication that if the influx of the Rohingya refugees continues, the already fragile northeast corridor may get destabilised; there could be a possibility of violence directed against Myanmar government and its diplomatic mission in India and there is a chance of Indian Buddhists who are Indian citizens coming in the harm's way.

The MHA's internal documents, based on intelligence inputs, also stated that Rohingyas with militant background have been found be active in Jammu, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mewat and they may pose threat to national security. It said they have come under the sinister designs of outfits like ISIS who want to trigger communal and sectarian violence in the country. It raised alarm over Rohingya radicals acquiring fake PAN cards and organised networks and touts helping them cross over to states like Tripura, West Bengal and Assam. It does not discount role of outfits in Pakistan and Bangladesh in assisting such activities. Further, the MHA felt their presence would add strain to national resources .

The home ministry feels that "India has been dealing with illegal immigrants on case to case to basis " and the policy has stood the test of time with Tibetans, Sri Lankan Tamils and Bangladeshis which brought international acclaim. It also provided the government flexibility to deal with situation, keeping in mind the interest of the country.

The ministry also argued that the decision of the government to deport Rohingyas is a policy decision and should not be subject to legal scrutiny as no illegal immigrant has a fundamental right to stay in India.

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