Rohingyas are illegal immigrants: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Describing Rohingyas as illegal immigrants and not refugees, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said India would not violate any International Law by sending them back as it was not a signatory to the UN Refugees Convention1951. Mr Singh, addressing a seminar organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) here said, "The Rohingyas have not applied for asylum, and they have not come here after following proper procedures".

Referring to Myanmar counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s remarks that the country will allow Rohingyas to return after a due verification process, the Union Home Minister said the criticism against the government for deporting the Rohingyas living in India was not called for as the Myanmar government itself was willing to take them back.

The NHRC had recently issued a notice to the Centre over its plan to deport Rohingyas, who are residing in various parts of India. The Centre in its detailed affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday had said the illegal influx of Rohingyas was posing a threat to national security. It said it had inputs from security agencies indicating linkages of some of the unauthorised Rohingya immigrants with Pakistan-based terror organisations and similar outfits operating in other countries. The government’s affidavit came on a plea filed by Rohingya refugees against the proposal to deport them. (UNI)