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Rohingya refugees in India facing accusation of illegal activities

Wednesday, 01 September 2021 4:25 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 01 September 2021 4:25 PM ]

Munawar Zaman
Press TV, New Delhi

Utter panic has once again gripped Rohingya refugee camps across India amid ongoing Covid crises. The community is facing yet another campaign for possible deportation with the government calling them a threat to national security and accusing them of being involved in illegal activities.

Based on official estimates, more than 40,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to India after a brutal crackdown against their community back in Myanmar. Many refugees say they felt safe in India, but over the last few years hate campaign against them has been haunting the community.

The UN refugee agency responsible to support these refuges in India is of no help they say. Activists say the most urgent need for these refugees is food, water, healthcare services and other basic essentials rather than a deliberate attempt to target them.

Most of the refugees work as daily wagers to make a living, but the recent government restrictions and Covid lockdown have left many out of work. Now the community is struggling on its own to survive.

Minority Rohingiya Muslims have for decades fled to neighboring Bangladesh and other countries including India. However, since the emergence of Hindu nationalist government in India, the destitute community has become victims of an expulsion campaign.

Over the last few years, the community is in utter distress, sometimes detentions in a midnight raid sometimes their camps being mysteriously burnt down. All they want is a peaceful survival in the world’s largest democracy till the situation gets conducive in their country.

Regardless of the refugee crises across the world, the community continues to be neglecte. But they say they have not lost faith in Indian democracy despite all hardships.

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