Why India should shelter Rohingyas at any cost

[Varun]

Taking a break from my nazaria-e-Pakistan analysis routine to focus on the important part of my life, I had decided to not tweet or blog for few months. And while my life continues to demand my full attention, I couldn’t help but pick up my pen for silence at this hour would be tantamount to condoning injustice.

Again, I have spoken on numerous wrongs within Pakistan; today I have a more important plea to make and I hope my readers listen, as they’ve done in the past.

There is nothing Indian about denying rohingyas refuge

The discrimination and persecution of Rohingyas has existed since the 1962 coup by the Burmese Army, which went on to legally strip Rohingyas of their Burmese nationality in 1982. The current round of oppression is therefore only a continuation of the ethno-communal identity politics played by Buddhist majority Burma (Myanmar).

Truth is, before the coup, Rohingyas' did not hide their affinity for the erstwhile East Pakistan based on commonality in language, culture and religion — and even attempted a failed rebellion against Burma, planting seeds of segregation that have come to haunt them more than once.

The Buddhist Burmese haven’t necessarily been accommodative of their differences with the minorities — before Independence, they saw Rohingyas' through the lens of British agents and after Independence as occupiers.

British India’s reign extended in the East until Burma and the policy of migrating labourers led to a Rohingya settlement in Burma. This is akin to people from India being taken as labourers to Africa, Singapore, East Timor, et al.

While media reports have followed after each wave of Rohingyas' persecution and subsequent migration, one thread binds them all — zilch action and resolution of the crisis by co-religionists, immediate and extended neighbours and the international community and humanity in general.

I expect no solution from the Rohingyas' co-religionists because they themselves are embroiled in apartheid against their minorities and citizens in the name of Arab versus non-Arab or the more common Muslim versus Infidel, and I am piqued by a bucket of tears any Pakistani would weep at this ethno-religion discrimination by the Buddhist Burmese while they, themselves, proudly celebrate the birth of Pakistan – which, ironically, was based on the same premise.

And it could be that Pakistan would accept few Rohingyas in the short term, only to eventually discriminate and strip them of their identity, culture and language as they have done with Sindhis and Kashmiris.

The ideal solution would be for Rohingyas to be equal and free citizens in their own land – Burma (Myanmar), but that would require the US, India and China to align and speak in one voice against Burmese Military Junta, instead of the present trend of placating Burma for its strategic-economic importance.

My analysis does not see this happening, as Burmese Generals are too smart not to sense the global sentiment against Islam and too cunning not to play one country against another.

Well, frankly, most Generals across the world have won medals for strategy rather than bravery.

Should India shelter Rohingyas?

Let’s understand its implications and India’s tryst with Islam.

The fact is that Hindu Raja Dahir (Sindh) gave refuge to family members of Imam Hussain, who were sought by the Umayyad in their deadly hunt to eliminate the last of the Ahl-e-Bait (Prophet Muhammad’s immediate family); certain historians claim Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was hunted by the Umayyad was on his way to Sindh when he was seized at Karbala in Iraq and killed.

The barbarity of the Arabs that followed has the natives of Sindh in tears even today — they mourn equally for Hussian and Raja Dahir.

Another fact is that Islam is an exclusivist religion. It has institutionalised segregation and apartheid as norm for non-Muslims. Its history is littered with disrespect for civilisation, culture, laws and humans that are in any manner different to its worldview.

Further, when in minority, instead of integrating within the local culture and community, Islam — if followed — would require special privileges and perpetuate ghettos.

Partition of India on the basis of the two-nation theory is a fact. Accession in Kashmir in the name of Islam is also a fact. And that the seemingly never-ending Hindu-Muslim divide has become even more acute with a Hindu nationalist government in India is also a fact.

With these concerns laid bare, should India still give refuge to the predominantly Muslim Rohingyas?

My answer is yes.

Because, Rohingyas are truly the sons and daughters of India.

Because India’s national fabric is not divisiveness, it is universal acceptance and tolerance. India’s idea was and should remain every religion is true, every path leads to the same destination.

India has sheltered persecuted Jews, Zoroastrians, Muslims of Prophet's family and Syrian Christians.

Because the very argument of the Hindu Right — that in order to preserve India it is imperative to deny refuge to Muslim Rohingyas — is incongruous with India and its civilisational ethos.

India stands today, despite millennia of invasion, not merely because of unceasing resistance but primarily because of blessings of millions that were once given refuge and chance to live as brothers and sisters.

The idea of Rome, Persia or Egypt could be dead, but India stands only because someone has to guide the world towards universal brotherhood and love — who better than India?

What better opportunity than now?

Fear begets hatred, fearlessness is love.

Do the right thing India.

Shalom.

http://www.dailyo.in/variety/dont-d...a-myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi/story/1/19362.html

Obviously an opinion piece, not news.

 

[R0H1T]

No problem in giving them refuge, but then do we also give them citizenship, like our Bengali neighbors after the 1971 war, heck Mamta is still doing her bit in West Bengal.

 

[www787]

India can't praise a highest elected official who is murdering them and give them shelter at the same time.

 

[PakLFC]

India is not obliged to do anything at all. The Rohingya still will get in to India one way or another if they want to.

 

[CanadianG00se]

India is not obliged to do anything at all. The Rohingya still will get in to India one way or another if they want to.

India have already closed down the border so i dont see how they would just get in if they wish. Right now 40K refugees are in India who might be sent back.

 

[PakLFC]

India have already closed down the border so i dont see how they would just get in if they wish. Right now 40K refugees are in India who might be sent back.

Desperate people always find ways to get in by bribing. Those already in India won't be going anywhere soon.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Desperate people always find ways to get in by bribing. Those already in India won't be going anywhere soon.

They need money in order to bribe the officials. Even if somehow they make it, there is likely chance that they would be living ghetto life. No money No food and No Shelter.

Those who've made it to India are living terrible life.

 

[PakLFC]

They need money in order to bribe the officials. Even if somehow they make it, there is likely chance that they would be living ghetto life. No money No food and No Shelter.

Those who've made it to India are living terrible life.

But they are still alive albeit most likely surviving by begging. In Burma they won't be alive to beg! They will bribe using various tactics. There are many illegal Bangladeshis living in Bihar.

 

[CanadianG00se]

But they are still alive albeit most likely surviving by begging. In Burma they won't be alive to beg! They will bribe using various tactics. There are many illegal Bangladeshis living in Bihar.

There is a saying, " If not Bullet, Hunger will Kill you". Hope you get my point. There is no denying that they wouldnt be killed in India like they would in their homeland, but seeing them living in wasteland and scavenging from waste/dumps is inviting lot of trouble for them and for people nearby. Like I mentioned if they will be living terrible life then they are merely delaying the inevitable.

I do want them to survive but at same time they should also live albeit somewhat quality life. Illegal Bangladeshis have been the real reason why India is reluctant to open its border for refugees. Bangladeshis have change the demography of Northeastern states of India.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Only on one condition, that they give up beef and vote for the BJP. Ok, make that two conditions.

 

[jeetu]

India cannot afford another big population influx. Needs to stay away from Rohingyas mess.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Such a complex decision.

Morality vs practicality.

My heart says we should give them shelter on humanitarian grounds. Those poor people are literally getting butchered.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Such a complex decision.

Morality vs practicality.

My heart says we should give them shelter on humanitarian grounds. Those poor people are literally getting butchered.

What about the poor in this country?Any idea how many homeless die in India every year?

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

What about the poor in this country?Any idea how many homeless die in India every year?

They aren't getting butchered literally. Few more ain't gonna break us.

If we send these refugees back, they will get killed.

Take in a few and review our approach as we move along. We can't save the world on our own but we can do our bit.

 

[CricketCartoons]

What about the poor in this country?Any idea how many homeless die in India every year?

Why should BJP be in favour of letting in people who are going to vote against it. If they were hindus, they would have been let in, no questions asked.

 

[cricketjoshila]

They aren't getting butchered literally. Few more ain't gonna break us.

If we send these refugees back, they will get killed.

Take in a few and review our approach as we move along. We can't save the world on our own but we can do our bit.

You need to look up how many die in India every year due to poverty.Lets first get our house in order and then we can start doing a bit for the world.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Why should BJP be in favour of letting in people who are going to vote against it. If they were hindus, they would have been let in, no questions asked.

Refugees dont have voting rights.

 

[R0H1T]

Such a complex decision.

Morality vs practicality.

My heart says we should give them shelter on humanitarian grounds. Those poor people are literally getting butchered.

Temporary refugees? If anything more, like granting citizenship for illegal aliens, then we'd be doing Indians over in the NE a huge disservice!

 

[CricketCartoons]

Refugees dont have voting rights.

Easy to get voter and aadhar card. You should be knowing.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Easy to get voter and aadhar card. You should be knowing.

With the monitoring going on and the names being deleted enmasse, not anymore.

 

[R0H1T]

With the monitoring going on and the names being deleted enmasse, not anymore.

That's not true, verification for voter Id & Aadhar is stupidly lax, as opposed to the number of hoops one needs to go through for a passport.

Once you get logged in the system, you are a de facto Indian, there aren't background checks even for driving license!

 

[cricketjoshila]

That's not true, verification for voter Id & Aadhar is stupidly lax, as opposed to the number of hoops one needs to go through for a passport.

Once you get logged in the system, you are a de facto Indian, there aren't background checks even for driving license!

Driving license and Aadhar are not proof of citizenship.

Govt is rechecking names in the voter list in immigration prone states like Assam and Bengal.Names are being removed by the thousands.Once you cannot vote, you are no use to the polutical parties and will be left to fend for yourself.

 

[maxamax]

If India was serious, they could have shut the Myanmar army down instead. But they kinda want this to happen.
The only disappointed leadership in this matter is of Pakistan/China. They could have turned things around but are dead silent despite knowing that this will only create more enemies in future for China.

 

[R0H1T]

Driving license and Aadhar are not proof of citizenship.

Govt is rechecking names in the voter list in immigration prone states like Assam and Bengal.Names are being removed by the thousands.Once you cannot vote, you are no use to the polutical parties and will be left to fend for yourself.

Of course they are not, but then what is? You also know that we get fake death certificates issues, how do you prove you;re alive then? In the same vein, what's there to prove that you were born in India, even birth & domicile certificates can be bought!

 

[troodon]

If India was serious, they could have shut the Myanmar army down instead. But they kinda want this to happen.
The only disappointed leadership in this matter is of Pakistan/China. They could have turned things around but are dead silent despite knowing that this will only create more enemies in future for China.

Why would India shut off Myanmar army? It's Myanmar's internal issue. Why mess with Burma and make another enemy or on the eastern border?

If any, Pak could have requested China to put pressure on Burma. China and Pak are BFF's anyway. This is the least China could do to its best friend.

 

[cricketjoshila]

If India was serious, they could have shut the Myanmar army down instead. But they kinda want this to happen.
The only disappointed leadership in this matter is of Pakistan/China. They could have turned things around but are dead silent despite knowing that this will only create more enemies in future for China.

Why would we make an enemy on our otherwise peaceful eastern front?

 

[PakLFC]

There is a saying, " If not Bullet, Hunger will Kill you". Hope you get my point. There is no denying that they wouldnt be killed in India like they would in their homeland, but seeing them living in wasteland and scavenging from waste/dumps is inviting lot of trouble for them and for people nearby. Like I mentioned if they will be living terrible life then they are merely delaying the inevitable.

I do want them to survive but at same time they should also live albeit somewhat quality life. Illegal Bangladeshis have been the real reason why India is reluctant to open its border for refugees. Bangladeshis have change the demography of Northeastern states of India.

India should give them refuge for a while. At the same time guarantee should be provided as to when they will leave. The demographics and borders of the subcontinent make it rather easy to cross over in to the neighbouring country as is often the case with Indo-Pak fisherman. There are plenty of illegal Indian's living in Pakistan as well.

 

[maxamax]

Why would India shut off Myanmar army? It's Myanmar's internal issue. Why mess with Burma and make another enemy or on the eastern border?

If any, Pak could have requested China to put pressure on Burma. China and Pak are BFF's anyway. This is the least China could do to its best friend.

Why would we make an enemy on our otherwise peaceful eastern front?

If Indians could do same with Bangladesh, why not Burma?

 

[Rafa]

If Indians could do same with Bangladesh, why not Burma?

Good question, the fact is it was India"s plan to spread separatism and further it's agenda of dividing Pakistan in 1971 and not some humanitarian effort.

 

[ToeCrusher2]

Such a complex decision.

Morality vs practicality.

My heart says we should give them shelter on humanitarian grounds. Those poor people are literally getting butchered.

Nothing complex about it, morality is subjective, practicality is not

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Nothing complex about it, morality is subjective, practicality is not

Exactly.

Hence complex for some.

 

[cricketjoshila]

If Indians could do same with Bangladesh, why not Burma?

East Pakistan was already an enemy.More than 1cr people had already come in and infilterated and creating havoc.Pakistan launched the war by OP Chengiz Khan.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Good question, the fact is it was India"s plan to spread separatism and further it's agenda of dividing Pakistan in 1971 and not some humanitarian effort.

So India made Sheikh Mujib win the election and get Majority in Pakistani NA in 1970?Or did India imprison him instead of making him PM?Did India start the worst genocide since WW2 or did India send 10mn plus people as refugees in the neighbouring country.Or did India do OP Chengiz Khan?

 

[Pollack]

With the monitoring going on and the names being deleted enmasse, not anymore.

Are you sure Mamata Begum let it happen completely?

 

[Pollack]

Do they have other alternative countries for refugee? How much challenging is it to make into them?

 

[Pollack]

Such a complex decision.

Morality vs practicality.

My heart says we should give them shelter on humanitarian grounds. Those poor people are literally getting butchered.

No. Today's world is brutal for idealists. Pragmatism and own's interest is the best. Otherwise trouble awaits in future for sure.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Are you sure Mamata Begum let it happen completely?

She has no authority over this.Citizenship isnt a state subject.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

India shouldn't..... Bangladesh should shoulder all the responsibility here.

 

[Pollack]

She has no authority over this.Citizenship isnt a state subject.

You don't have to be citizen of India to get voter ID and adhar for some select population . Hope you get what I am hinting at.

 

[cricketjoshila]

You don't have to be citizen of India to get voter ID and adhar for some select population . Hope you get what I am hinting at.

Thats what i am saying, the central govt has control over Aadhar and Voter list.They are deleting the names from the voter list and since aadhar is now mandatory for almost everything and already thousands of aadhar have been deactivated because they belong to illegal immigrants, mamata cant do much.

 

[IndYeah1]

Bad policy choice made by the current administration. At a minimum, they had an option to take in a token amount of refugees. Strictly monitor them and register them, so that they don't become citizens, but don't close the door. They could have easily provided funding to Bangladesh to create some sort of facilities on the border where so many are coming through. This is wrong.

 

[Muhammad10]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"We would rather die than return to Myanmar."<br><br>Rohingya Muslims in India fear deportation <a href="https://t.co/EzVfQvW0P0">https://t.co/EzVfQvW0P0</a> <a href="https://t.co/RFYBSJsvJP">pic.twitter.com/RFYBSJsvJP</a></p>— Al Jazeera News (@AJENews) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJENews/status/908133315403808768">September 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[cricketjoshila]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"We would rather die than return to Myanmar."<br><br>Rohingya Muslims in India fear deportation <a href="https://t.co/EzVfQvW0P0">https://t.co/EzVfQvW0P0</a> <a href="https://t.co/RFYBSJsvJP">pic.twitter.com/RFYBSJsvJP</a></p>— Al Jazeera News (@AJENews) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJENews/status/908133315403808768">September 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That UNHCR card has ZERO value as India is not a signatory to the UN convention on Refugees and no one can force a country to keep illegal immigrants.These people are being identified and will be deported.

 

[PakLFC]

That UNHCR card has ZERO value as India is not a signatory to the UN convention on Refugees and no one can force a country to keep illegal immigrants.These people are being identified and will be deported.

India should take them in for a while at least. Taking a few thousand refugee's will make no difference.

 

[Abdullah719]

Rohingyas and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants must be shot dead to keep India safe: BJP MLA Raja Singh

A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Telangana has stoked a row by claiming that Rohingyas and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants should be shot dead to keep India safe. BJP Telangana MLA Raja Singh said: "If these Rohingyas and Bangladeshi illegal immigrants do not leave India respectfully, then they should be shot and eliminated. Then only our country will be safe."

His statement comes at a time when the BJP-led Central government and the opposition are at loggerheads over the Rohingya issue and the National Register of Citizens released by the Assam government.

While Home Minister Rajnath Singh slammed the Opposition for politicising a sensitive issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah accused them of attempting to shield Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Shah also hit out at the Congress claiming that an initiative similar to NRC was started by former PM Rajiv Gandhi but the government then did not have the courage to implement it. "Under NRC, illegal immigrants are identified and a separate register of citizens should be made. Rajiv Gandhi signed Assam accord in 1985, which was similar to NRC. Previous governments did not have the courage to implement it, but we had the courage so we went ahead with the same," Shah said.

http://zeenews.india.com/india/rohi...ep-india-safe-bjp-mla-raja-singh-2129049.html

 

[ex-q-zit]

Over 100 Rohingya Stranded At Sea Near Andamans, Many Feared Dead: Report

At least 100 ethnic Rohingya are stranded in a boat off Andaman Islands and as many as 16-20 may have have died of thirst, hunger or drowned, said two Myanmar Rohingya activist groups.

Each year many Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority, risk their lives boarding rickety vessels to escape violence in Myanmar and squalor in Bangladesh refugee camps. Many attempt to reach Malaysia.

The stranded boat was approached by five Indian ships late on Tuesday, a source told news agency Reuters.

A spokesperson for the Indian Navy said he did not have any details to share. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

"We estimate that probably as many as 20 have died, some from hunger and thirst, and others jumped overboard in desperation. This is absolutely awful and outrageous," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project which works to support Myanmar's Rohingyas.

Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network's Rohingya Working Group said the group had been adrift for more than two weeks.

"We heard late last night that there were some Indian vessels approaching the boat so we are awaiting updates now," said Lilianne Fan, chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network's Rohingya Working Group.

"We hope that the Indian Navy or Coastguard will manage to rescue and disembark the boat as soon as possible. These people have been adrift on a damaged boat for more than 2 weeks without food and water. We have heard that up to 16 people may have already died."

Another boat, carrying more than a hundred Rohingya was rescued by Sri Lanka's navy on the weekend.

In 2018, more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to neighbouring Bangladesh following a military crackdown in Myanmar that witnesses said included mass killings and rape.

Rights groups and media have documented killings of civilians and burning of villages.

NDTV