IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Sep 10: Alarmed at the huge outflow of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in neighbouring Bangladesh and its likely spillover in its own territory, India on Saturday clearly spoke on the issue of violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, asking the regime to handle the issue with ‘restraint and maturity’.
“India remains deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State in Myanmar and the outflow of refugees from that region,” said India’s External Affairs Ministry in a statement Saturday evening.
“We would urge that the situation in Rakhine State be handled with restraint and maturity, focussing on the welfare of the civilian population alongside those of the security forces. It is imperative that violence is ended and normalcy in the State restored expeditiously,” the ministry said.
Media reports say the government has spoken on the issue only after Bangladesh High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali met Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar here at South Block on Saturday afternoon and explained the situation his country is facing due to huge inflow of Rohingya refugees.
As per the United Nations, more than 2.90 lakh Rohingya refugees have entered Bangladesh just in two weeks since 25th Aug.
It is said that during his recent visit to Myanmar, Prime Ministry Narendra Modi had not strongly spoken on the violence against civilians in Rakhine state. He had indeed strongly condemned the reported attacks on the Burmese security forces in the region dominated by Rohingya Muslims.
However, in the Saturday statement, the External Affairs Ministry said the PM Modi had expressed his concern at the casualties of security forces as well as other innocent lives.
“During Prime Minister’s recent visit to Myanmar, he had expressed his concern at the casualties of security forces as well as other innocent lives. He had also urged a solution based on respect for peace, communal harmony, justice, dignity and democratic values,” said the ministry.
It was agreed during the Prime Minister’s visit that India would provide assistance under the Rakhine State Development Programme in conjunction with the Government of Myanmar.
For the last one week, leading Muslim organizations in India have also urged PM Modi to use his offices to stop violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. They also urged the government not to oust the Rohingya refugees in the country.
“We wish to remind the Government of India to talk to the Burmese Government on the Rohingya problem and pressurize them to restore the constitutional and citizenship rights of the Rohingya Muslims,” said Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind while addressing a press conference in Delhi on Saturday noon.
“We appeal to the Indian government to continue allowing the Rohingya Muslims who have taken refuge in India to stay in India as refugees till as time their constitutional and citizenship rights are restored in Myanmar,” he urged.
