Identify Rohingyas, will talk to Myanmar: Rajnath Singh to states

KOLKATA: Union home minister Rajnath Singh said the central government has decided to start discussions with Myanmar on the issue of infiltration of Rohingyas and that a dialogue would be initiated with detailed biometric records of Rohingyas living in India.

“Advisory has been sent to all states on Rohingya infiltration issue. The states have to identify them and record their biometrics. With detailed records, states will send reports to the central government. The government will initiate action with the records through diplomatic channels and talk to Myanmar to resolve issues,” Singh said on Kolkata on Monday, following the 23rd meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council.

Rohingyas, who belong to Myanmar’s Rakhine state, have faced persecution as part of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar and thousands of them have fled the country to find refuge in neighbouring countries including India.


The meeting was hosted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna, the state secretariat.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi were present in the meeting. Odisha was represented in the meeting by finance minister Shashi Bhusan Behera.

Calling the meeting a “successful” one, the home minister said that 30 items were discussed, of which 26 were resolved. Talking about leftwing extremism in some of the eastern states and the deployment of central forces, he said the government was working on the challenges in all security theatres and that these would be dealt with.