Union Minister Hansraj Ahir Slams Varun Gandhi For Comments On Rohingyas

Rohingya men hold placards condemning the violence in Myanmar as dozens of them gather near the Indian Parliament in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. (Photo: AP)

In a strong reaction, India said it was surprised that individual incidents are being "extrapolated" to suggest a broader societal situation. (Photo: AP)

Ahir, while criticising Varun's stand, told reporters here that, "Jo desh ke hith mein sochenga woh is tarah ke bayan nahi dega (Anyone who has national interest in mind, won't make such statements)." Photo: PTI

Ahir's criticism came after Varun expressed his views in an article in a Hindi daily. Photo: PTI

"As for the Rohingyas, I've called for empathy, leading potentially to asylum, while vetting each applicant for national security concerns (sic)," he tweeted. Photo: AFP

Varun's remarks were at variance with the government's stand on the issue. Photo: PTI

Terming the Rohingya refugees as "illegal" immigrants, the government had recently told the Supreme Court that some of them were part of a "sinister" design of Pakistan's ISI and terror groups such as the ISIS, whose presence in the country will pose a "serious" national security threat. (Photo: AP)