No identity cards for Rohingyas: Government

NEW DELHI: The central government on Friday denied that BSF was illegally pushing back the Rohingya refugees waiting to enter the country near the international border with Myanmar.

No chili or stun grenades were being used, the home ministry said in an affidavit, refuting reports to this effect. The forces were sticking to the law and human rights, it said. However, the government said that there was no question of issuing them any identification cards or treating them on a par with the Sri Lankan Tamils, who were allowed to settle in India as per a bilateral treaty with that country.

Neither the home ministry nor the FRRO were issuing them any identity papers, the government told the Supreme Court.


Responding to pleas that education and health facilities be extended to all Rohingya refugees who are in camps in India, the government said that there have been no reports alleging to the contrary.

The Rohingya Muslims are fleeing Myanmar for fear of religious persecution.

They have alleged a genocide at the hands of the Buddhist majority government there. India currently has over 4,00,000 Rohingya refugees.