Coming down heavily on the Modi government, political and social activists and leaders cutting across political lines slammed the Centre over the decision of deporting Rohingya refugees. They said neither the Constitution of India nor international laws allow looking the refugees on religious and communal lines. It is an issue of humanity.
They were speaking at a one-day national convention on ‘Rohingya Migrants’ organised by Muslim Political Council in New Delhi on 15 September.
Ravi Shankar Aiyar, former Union Minister and senior Congress leader, said India never looked the religion of refugees but it gave the shelter to everyone irrespective of race and religion. When China took over Tibet, India gave shelter to Tibetans. They have been living here for decades; we never forced them to go back. When Russia attacked Afghanistan, we gave shelter to Afghans in our country. The son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took shelter in India. In the Mughal regime too, Muslim kings had given shelter to Parsis and other people irrespective of their race, religion and region. The record of our country is that we always welcomed refugees. But after coming to power of this new government at the Centre in 2014, it started to look the religion of refugees. They have come with a bill on citizenship in which they will give citizenship to all refugees except Muslims. Now they started to look the religion of Rohingya people staying here as refugees.
Prashant Bhushan, senior Supreme Court human rights lawyer and political activist, said that so far it has been the policy of India that it will give shelter to all the people who had to leave their own country because of religious and ethnic persecution. Article 14 of the Constitution says that no one can be discriminated against on the basis of religion. And Article 21 says that everyone, whether he is citizen or not, has right to live with freedom. It means that you can’t force anyone, whether he is citizen or not, to go to any such place where his life is in danger. Although India did not sign International Refugee Convention, it has signed four such international conventions as per which it cannot force people to go to such a place where they are harassed and tortured or their rights are violated.
He further said the government is saying they are terrorists and threat to internal security. In Jammu, the largest number of Rohingya refugees is living. It was asked there in the assembly whether any such terror activity has been reported. The Jammu government replied there is no such report nor is there any accusation.
Tasleem Rahmani, president Muslim Political Council of India, said the thing which is cited to declare Rohingya people terrorist is the recent attack on Burmese Army by a Rohingya extremist group. This group has no weapons such as bombs and guns. They have only some sharp-edged weapons. No international organisation dubbed them terrorist. But the attack might have a counter-attack in reaction of long-standing and brutal persecution. If a community has been persecuted for long decades, some people will definitely take extreme path to defend. For that reason, terming the entire community terrorist is ridiculous.
He also questioned the rationale of awarding Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now State Councillor of Myanmar. He questioned the contribution and sacrifices for which she was given the prize. She did not contribute any big thing to Myanmar. It was the people of Myanmar including Rohingya who were fighting for democracy against the military government. He also alleged that there is international politics behind the persecution of Rohingya people. The place where Rohingya community is settled down is on the target of European Union that wants to establish their industries there. That’s why European Union urged to remove sanction that was imposed on Myanmar by the United Nations. European Union made a lot of favours to Aung San Suu Kyi for that reason. There is a sinister design that most of the Rohingya people are made refugees and the rest of them are destined to be bonded labour in Myanmar.
Zafar-ul-Islam Khan, chairman of Delhi Minority Commission, said Rohingya is the most persecuted community in the world. Every international institution and organisation has accepted this fact. A lot of Rohingya took shelter in India but they are living under pitiful condition. They are deprived of basic facilities. The government wants to deport even those helpless people.
Zafar Mahmood, chairman Zakat Foundation India, said Rohingya people who took shelter in India are not refugee but migrants (Muhajir). The holy Qur’ān emphatically appeals to humanity to aid migrants. He expected that they would not be deported from India. The human conscience will stop the authorities to do such injustice to helpless humans. He hoped that the Supreme Court would stop the planned deportation.
Jogendra Sharma (senior leader of Communist Party of India (M)), N.D. Pancholi (Social Activist), Nandita Narayan (Professor and Activist) and Ali Johar (Rohingya Activist) also addressed the convention. They also called it a humanitarian issue. And it should not be seen with a narrow religious angle. People cutting across religion and region should come out to support resolution of this crisis.