Rohingyas to get help only on humanitarian grounds: Govt

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday assured the Supreme Court that it would extend all help to the Rohingyas in camps across India on humanitarian grounds on par with the local populace, but won’t concede them any legal status by issuing identification papers.

“That would be a route to getting voter I-cards,” Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, resisting issuing of any identity cards. Mehta also argued that Rohingyas cannot be given anything more than what the locals get. He suggested that it would be discriminatory to the local Indians and would create ill-will. “We don’t want to create discord.” Mehta contended that all Rohingyas in camps in Delhi and Haryana were getting the basic health, education and sanitation facilities. “Rohingyas are getting equal facilities,” he claimed citing a report submitted by a high-level official team. This was sharply contested by lawyers Prashant Bhushan and Colin Golsaves.