NEW DELHI:   The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on has asked the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to again take all necessary steps to prevent the entry of illegal migrants into the state, including Rohingyas from Myanmar. In a letter sent to State Chief Secretary Bharat Bhushan Vyas, Anuj Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, called on the state government to "kindly review this matter (of the entry of illegal migrants) and issue instructions to take necessary steps and share updated information in the prescribed form .. as soon as possible.." 

 

In particular, the Home Ministry expressed its serious concern over Rohingyas and other foreigners who have already entered and are illegally staying in India, including in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.  Pertinently, former J&K Legislative Assembly Speaker and right-wing party BJP leader Kavinder Gupta (now Deputy CM) claimed that the attack on an army camp at Sunjwan in Jammu took place due to presence of Rohingya refugees in the area leaving two Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) dead.

 

According to Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) monitoring desk, the Rohingya are fleeing a campaign of indiscriminate violence by Myanmar’s military, whose tactics are being widely condemned as a form of ethnic cleansing. It is estimated that there are about 40,000 Rohingyas residing in India. The letter from the ministry said, "Such illegal migrations poses serious challenges and has security implications since some of the migrants have been found to have indulged in illegal activities and are vulnerable to radicalization." 

 

It further states, "It has been brought to the notice of the Government that some of the Rohingyas/foreigners are involved in crimes, anti-national activities, money laundering, procuring fake/fabricated Indian documents; and some of them have illegally and fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents e.g. Pan Card, Voter Card, etc."   In January this year, the Centre told the Supreme Court that India could not become the "Refugee Capital of the World". The apex court was then hearing a petition of two Rohingya refugees who were demanding Indian citizenship and other rights.