Senior minister calls it \u2018landmark decision,\u2019 Rohingya welcome move with pinch of salt
\n NEW DELHI
\nIndia has decided to settle Rohingya refugees living in the national capital New Delhi and provide them shelter, amenities, and police protection, a senior minister said on Wednesday.
\nIndia\u2019s Federal Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Twitter that all Rohingya refugees will be shifted to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats located in Bakkarwala area of Delhi.
\n\u201cIndia has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country,\u201d he said, calling the decision a \u201clandmark\u201d move.
\nHe said that the Rohingya will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) identity cards, and round-the-clock police protection.
\nThe announcement by the senior minister indicates an apparent change in stance by the Indian government towards the Rohingya refugees.
\nIn the past, there have been several announcements by ruling party leaders that Rohingya would be deported.
\nRohingya welcome decision with some fears
\nThe Rohingya representatives in Delhi called it a positive development, though expressing some fears as well.
\nAli Johar, a Rohingya representative and head of Education at Rohingya Human Rights Initiative \u2013 a non-governmental organization working for the rights of persecuted Rohingya community \u2013 told Anadolu Agency the government\u2019s decision to provide shelter is a \u201cpositive development.\u201d
\n\u201cSince it is the right of the Rohingya refugees to get access to education and free movement so that they earn for survival, we are hopeful that this move is being done on positive lines. However, if there would be curbs on the movement of refugees in the area where they are being shifted, it would be a kind of detention, it would be the biggest nightmare,\u201d he said.
\nHe also said that there are approximately 1,100 Rohingya living in New Delhi and they are residing in camps, colonies, and even rental accommodation.
\nSabber Kyaw Min, another Rohingya representative in New Delhi, told Anadolu Agency that they have not held any discussion with the government regarding the issue.
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know much about the decision. We are praying it doesn\u2019t turn out to be a detention center,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cCondition of Rohingya is extremely poor. They are living in miserable conditions. The government needs to work towards improving the lives of Rohingya,\u201d he said.
\nTens of thousands of Rohingya were killed and thousands of women and girls were raped when Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in Rakhine State in August 2017. More than 1.2 million Rohingya, described by the UN as the world\u2019s most persecuted people, were forced to flee Myanmar.
\nThere are about 40,000 Rohingya in India with 20,000 registered with the UN refugee agency. In the past, a number of Rohingya have been detained by the Indian authorities in several parts of the country.
\nRohingya activists in India have been demanding New Delhi uphold commitments to human rights and democratic credentials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Senior minister calls it \u2018landmark decision,\u2019 Rohingya welcome move with pinch of salt NEW DELHI India has decided to settle Rohingya refugees living in the national capital New Delhi and provide them shelter, amenities, and police protection, a senior minister said on Wednesday. India\u2019s Federal Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri announced […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":277944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-277929","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n