Rohingyas are our 'guests': Ramdas Athawale

Ramdas Athawale. (Photo: PTI/File)

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Thursday in a controversial statement referred to the Rohingya migrants living in India as "guests". "The Rohingyas are our guests. Like other guests who come to us and we assist them, similarly, the Rohingyas are also being helped," Athawale, the Minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas, said. He, however, said that the Rohingyas have come from Myanmar but natively they're Bangladeshis and the country should take them back. The Dalit leader said the Rohingyas are neither the responsibility of the Indian government nor subjected to stay here permanently but they're being sheltered on a temporary basis. Athawale's remarks came days after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha that some of the Rohingya migrants living in India have been involved in illegal activities. Responding to a series of questions, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had on Monday said the government has reports that some of the Rohingyas have been involved in illegal activities but he would refrain from getting into details. Rijiju said since they are illegal migrants, they are not entitled to any government facility. The minister said the priority of the government is to take care of rights of Indian citizens. He said though they have not been given legal documents like ration cards, if they have acquired such facilities, it must have been done through illegal means. He said though states have a right under the Foreigners Act to deport illegal migrants, state governments have been asked to collect details about Rohingyas and share it with the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry would then urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take up their deportation with Myanmar.