A group of people, including politicians and human rights activists, today formed 'Save The Rohingyas of Myanmar', which will act as a "pressure group" and urge the government to provide refuge and aid to the members of this Muslim community on humanitarian grounds.
Prakash Ambedkar, a former MP and grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, while announcing the formation of the committee said, "We are appalled, saddened and shocked to see that lakhs of Rohingyas from Myanmar are on the verge of dying and the Indian government is not providing refuge to them. Through this group, we would pressurise the government to do something for them on humanitarian grounds."
Speaking to reporters later, the president of Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, who will lead the committee said, "Unfortunately, this BJP-led government sees every issue through the prism of Hinduism."
The Centre submitted before the Supreme Court today that the continued stay of Rohingya Muslims has serious security ramifications. Terming the Rohingya refugees as "illegal" immigrants, the government today told the apex court that some of them were part of a "sinister" design of Pakistan's ISI and terror groups such as the ISIS, whose presence in the country will pose a "serious" national security threat.
To a question on the government's stand in the SC, Ambedkar said, "The police records do not support that they are in any way part of international terrorist organisations.. and if the government agencies have any inputs about it, then they should identify such people and offer help to those, who are not so (linked to terror groups)."
Ambedkar also suggested that Rohingyas can be granted refuge for the time being or even the next couple of years.
Apart from Ambedkar, city-based human rights activist Jatin Desai, MLC Kapil Patil, Feroz Mithiborwala and Noorjahan Niyaz, will also be members of the committee.
Kapil Patil said, "It has always been our tradition to offer all possible help to those in need. The BJP-led government is washing its hands of them."
Jatin Desai suggested that it is time that the government comes up with a refugee policy to end such problems forever.