The Editorial Analysis- Too Good to be True

In the absence of long-term measures to resolve the Refugee issue, the Indian Government could at least, provide the hapless Rohingya community better living conditions, until their future is secured

Table of Contents

Rohingya Muslim Issue- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: International Relation- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Rohingya Muslim Issue in News

Recently, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri’s announcement on social media that government has decided to house about 1,100 Rohingya migrants became a point of controversy.

Rohingya’s Housing Controversy- More on News

Puri said that migrant Rohingyas are living in makeshift slums, in flats with amenities instead, proved “too good to be true”.
The details Mr. Puri shared, as well as documents from 2021, showed that the Government had indeed been considering moving the Rohingya, who live on land donated by an Islamic charity, after their previous homes were burnt down.
However, Mr. Puri was countered by the Home Minister’s Office, which denied any such intention, instead terming them “illegal foreigners”.

Government’s Stand on Rohingya’s Housing Controversy

Home Ministry’s Office said the plan was to keep Refugee Rohingyas (illegal foreigners) sequestered in their present homes.
These homes would be designated as detention centres while the Government continued efforts to deport them to Myanmar.

Associated Concerns

Denying Human Treatment to Rohingyas: Many steps of government and associated individuals suggest this. For example-
- Union Home Minister referring to migrants as “termites”,
- He stated in Parliament that India would “never accept” the Rohingya, and
- India even violated the UN principle of non-refoulement by deporting a Rohingya woman to Myanmar this year.
Against “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” Philosophy: The treatment of the Rohingya, who fled to India in 2012 and 2017 after state-sponsored ethnic cleansing, has been against India’s philosophy of “vasudhaiva kutumbakam”. For exa-
- The Rohingya have been driven out of homes in Rajasthan and Haryana,
- Stigmatised by local authorities and intelligence agencies who accuse them of criminal and even terrorist intent.
Diluting the “Regional leader” Image: New Delhi has failed thus far-
- To play its role as a “Regional leader” in convincing Myanmar to provide its citizens homes and assurances of safety, or
- In brokering dialogue between Dhaka and Naypyidaw to ensure their return;

Way Forward

Balancing between Foreign Policy Commitments and Domestic Politics: The Rohingya housing issue seems to be an example of the clash between the Modi government’s foreign policy commitments and its domestic politics.
Respecting UN Convention of refugees, 1951: Though India is not a signatory to the convention, India must follow and respect it, especially when it comes to right treatment of forcefully displaced Rohingya Refugees.

Conclusion

In the absence of long-term measures to resolve the Rohinga Refugee issue, the Indian Government could at least, provide the hapless Rohingya community better living conditions, until their future is secured.

UNHCR Report on Forced Displacement in 2021