India cannot be world’s refugee capital, says govt on Rohingya issue

NEW DELHI: India cannot become the refugee capital of the world, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a case relating to the Rohingya crossing the border from Myanmar into India, even as the National Human Rights (NHRC) suggested that the rights of the refugees must be protected.

The Supreme Court is hearing a bunch of petitions seeking to restrain the Centre from deporting about 40,000 Rohingyas, who have fled alleged persecution in Myanmar.

The process of sending them back has been temporarily stopped on the court’s advice.

“We do not want India to become the refugee capital of the world. People from every other country will flood our country,” additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra.

Mehta made his submission in response to a fresh application filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan,who complained that Rohinyas were being driven away from the Indian border. The court have Mehta till March 7 to respond on a plea to grant asylum to an additional 8,000 odd Rohingya Muslim refugees.

During the hearing, the NHRC came out in support of the petitioners.

“The government must protect the rights of Rohingya refugees in India, including access of their children to schools and other facilities,” senior advocate Gopal Subramanian told the bench on behalf of the commission. He supported the plea for refugee status to Rohingyas already in India. As regards to those looking to enter the border, the senior advocate said he would like to seek instructions.