New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday said the Border Security Force (BSF) and Assam Rifles have been sensitised to ensure that members of the Rohingya Muslim minority do not enter the country and states have been asked to enumerate and confine those who have immigrated illegally.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that his Ministry had issued an advisory to the states in February concerning the Rohingya.
“The BSF and Assam Rifles have been fully sensitised to ensure that Rohingyas are not able to enter,” Rajnath Singh replied to a query posed by a Shiv Sena member.
He said Rohingyas have, however, entered the country in “large numbers”.
“It should not happen that the Rohingyas spread out and stay wherever they want,” he said, adding that the states have been advised to prepare their “biography” (profiles) and take biometrics.
“The advisory also says that their movement should also be monitored and the states should be fully alert,” the Minister added.
Rajnath Singh said the state governments have the right to deportation under the Foreigners Act.
“We have requested the state governments that after identification and enumeration of the Rohingyas, they should send the information to the Central government. Once we get this information, we will share it with the External Affairs Ministry. The ministry will talk to the Myanmar authorities and try to deport them,” the minister said. Earlier, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said Rohingyas were illegal migrants and there was no question of the government giving them any facilities. (IANS)
