New Delhi: India has failed to acknowledge and act on its international legal obligations to protect them and has instead created societal as well as legal barriers for arrival and acceptance of Rohingya refugees.
In 2015, the BJP led government altered the Passport Act, 1967 and the Foreigners Act, 1946 to exclude people belonging to Muslim community to enter India without Passport or in search of asylum like Rohingyas.
Indian Government’s Treatment of Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers is in sharp contrast of its treatment given to following in past: –
In 1951, India welcomed Tibetan (Buddhist) refugees. They were granted asylum/ Refugee Certificates with all rights as Indian citizens except the right to vote/ employment.
Sikhs and Hindus fleeing Afghanistan (Afghan-Soviet war 1980s) were welcomed in India and were provided necessary aid at all times in association with the UNHCR and the National Human Rights Commission.
In the wake of civil war in Sri Lankan (1980s), Tamil (Hindu) refugees were welcomed in India and were settled in camps in the Southern State of Tamil Nadu. Indian government is intending to grant citizenship to Sri Lankan refugees under the CAA.
In a report by the Anadolu Agency, Ali Johar, a youth Rohingya leader speaking of the CAA said that it has instilled fears in the minds of the Rodingya Muslims.
The after factor clubbed with the main-stream narrative of Rohingya being terrorist, termites and unwanted criminal elements with connections to Islamic terrorism has created a wider narrative which seeks to criminalize and dehumanize Rohingyas in India.
Rohingyas are now between the devil and deep sea…!! Threat to their lives back in Myanmar and harsh treatment at the hands of BJP/ RSS nexus have started converting into Hinduism under pressure.
They are left with no option except to become Hindu so that RSS stands pacified paving way for grant of citizenship.
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