Centre To Provide Flats To 1,100 Rohingya Refugees In Delhi, Hardeep Puri Calls It 'Landmark Decision'
Taking a jibe at critics of the CAA, Puri said, “Those who made a career out of spreading canards on India’s refugee policy deliberately linking it to CAA will be disappointed."
New Delhi: Around 1,100 Rohingya refugees living in tents will soon get a roof over their heads in Delhi equipped with basic amenities and round-the-clock security, said the officials, reported news agency ANI. The decision was taken following a high-level meeting that was held in the national capital over the accommodation of Rohingya, reported the news agency.
The meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary of Delhi and was attended by senior officials of the Delhi government, Delhi Police, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"These refugees will soon be shifted to New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) flats in Bakkarwala village of Outer Delhi. There are a total of 250 flats belonging to the Economic Weaker Section (EWS) category where all 1,100 Rohingyas, currently residing in the Madanpur Khadar camp, will be accommodated," said a senior official.
The decision was lauded by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri who termed it a “landmark decision”.
“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 Delhi Police protection,” he 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. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/E5ShkHOxqE
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 17, 2022
Taking a jibe at critics of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Puri said, “Those who made a career out of spreading canards on India’s refugee policy deliberately linking it to CAA will be disappointed. India respects & follows UN Refugee Convention 1951 & provides refuge to all, regardless of their race, religion or creed.”
In the meeting that was held during the last week of July, it was emphasised that the Delhi government was bearing around Rs 7 lakh per month rent for the tents where Rohingyas were shifted in the Madanpur Khadar area after a fire incident happened in the camp where they were living.
The Delhi Police were instructed to provide security to the premises where these flats are located and the Social Welfare department of the Delhi Government had been ordered to ensure basic facilities like a fan, three times meals, landline phone, television, and recreational facilities in the new campus.
The Delhi Government has been ordered to provide basic facilities in the flats and had it over to Foreign Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) which will then facilitate the shifting of Rohingya refugees into these flats.