Union Minister Hardeep Puri says Rohingya refugees to be shifted to EWS flats, Home Ministry denies

New Delhi: Hours after Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Rohingya refugees would be provided Economically Weaker Section category flats in Delhi's Bakkarwala area, the Ministry of Home Affairs has denied it.

In the series of tweets, the HMO India clarified that it had not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants in New Delhi.

“With respect to news reports in certain sections of media regarding Rohingya illegal foreigners, 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,” HMO India tweeted.

“Govt of Delhi proposed to shift the Rohingyas to a new location. MHA has directed the GNCTD to ensure that the Rohingya illegal foreigners will continue at the present location as MHA has already taken up the matter of their deportation with the concerned country through MEA,” HMO India further said.

“Illegal foreigners are to be kept in Detention Centre till their deportation as per law. The Government of Delhi has not declared the present location as a Detention Centre. They have been directed to do the same immediately,” HMO India concluded.

Earlier on the day, the Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, in a tweet, said Rohingya refugees are being provided accommodation, as well as police protection.

"India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country. In a landmark decision all Rohingya refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi," Puri said.

According to reports, a meeting was held in Delhi recently, where it was decided that accommodation in EWS flats will be provided to around 1100 Rohingya refugees from the Madanpur Khadar area who were displaced after a fire incident in the camps where they were living.

They will be shifted to 250 flats of New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) in the Bakkarwala village area in Outer Delhi. The flats will be equipped with basic amenities. (Inputs from agencies)