'Deportation': Home Ministry clarifies after outcry over proposed 'EWS flats' for illegal Rohingya migrants

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing debate over providing the benefit of EWS flats for Rohingyas, the Home Minister's Office (HMO), on Wednesday, clarified it has not given any directives to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi. The HMO also clarified that it has taken up the matter regarding the deportation of Rohingyas with the Ministry of External Affairs.

"With respect to news reports in certain sections of media regarding Rohingya illegal foreigners, it is clarified that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi," the HMO said in a tweet.

In a series of tweets, the office clarified that the government of Delhi proposed to shift the Rohingyas to a new location. "MHA has directed the GNCTD to ensure that the Rohingya illegal foreigners will continue at the present location as MHA has already taken up the matter of their deportation with the concerned country through MEA," the MHA said.

Earlier, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Alok Kumar claimed that in stark contrast to the proposed flats for Rohingyas, the condition of Hindus living in several areas of Delhi is 'abysmal'. "The situation of Hindu refugees is abysmal. Those who are living in the Majnu ka Tila area. The condition of those Hindus contrasted to the bounties proposed to the Rohingyas makes for a stark view. We would request the government to reconsider its decision and instead of giving them houses, plan to extradite them from the boundaries of our country (sic)," Alok Kumar said in a statement.

Earlier during the day, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that all the Rohingya refugees would be shifted to EWS flats in the Bakkarwala area of Delhi. "India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country. In a landmark decision all #Rohingya #Refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice protection," Puri said.