Home Ministry has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingyas and they are to be put in camps, to be deported instead.
What added to the dilemma was Hardeep Singh Puri of India’s Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas earlier tweeted, “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. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice 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. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice protection. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/E5ShkHOxqE
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 17, 2022
Amit Shah immediately contradicts this and there seems to be a cold war of words waged between Amit Shah and Hardeep Singh Puri watched with interest by netizens.
The HM office said, “With respect to news reports in certain sections of media regarding Rohingya illegal foreigners, it is clarified that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi.
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.
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.”
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.
— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) August 17, 2022
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.
— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) August 17, 2022
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.
— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) August 17, 2022
On the proposal to shift Rohingya migrants to a new location, Home Ministry says it directed Delhi govt to ensure they remain at the present location.
Rohingya illegal foreigners are to be kept in detention centres till their deportation as per law: Home Ministry spokesperson.
Delhi govt has not declared a current site of Rohingya settlement as a detention centre; it has been asked to do so immediately by the Home Ministry.
Earlier, while announcing the Rohingya migrants would get EWS flats, the Home Ministry hurried to correct that error. There is a deep communication gap within the government it appears. It was unfortunate that the Rohingyas were given the hope to settle in flats, but instead are going to be put in detention centres which are rather like concentration camps.