Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said he has asked the states to single out Rohingyas living in their territories. The central government is planning to tackle the issue diplomatically with Myanmar.
“States have been told to identify them (Rohingyas). They have to take their biometrics also. After that they’ll send report to the Centre. Then Central government will initiate action through diplomatic channels with Myanmar and get it resolved,” Home Minister told journalists at the Eastern Zonal council in Kolkata on Monday.
Rajnath had earlier warned the opposition for not making it an issue as all Rohingyas are “Illegal immigrants”. Also, that they haven’t applied for asylum as refugees. “The presence of Rohingyas are not only confined to the north eastern states. They have reached south Indian states including Kerala,” the Union Minister had said in Kerala last Thursday.
Meanwhile, Singh had 20-minute closed-door meeting with Banerjee. But Singh’s praise for Banerjee for making such a great arrangement actually left the state BJP unit embarrassed. The meeting started around 11 in the morning and continued till 2pm. While answering the media on what was the discussion about, Rajnath applauded Banerjee.
At around 2pm, Singh went directly to Banerjee’s chamber in state secretariat Nabanna and sat there for some time before coming out at 2.25pm. Banerjee personally came down with the Home Minister and accompanied him till he drove off.
The point that was raised among the party members of the state BJP unit is why Singh had a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee and not with others. Members from other states were also there in the meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council before leaving for their respective destinations.
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Image Source: Indian Express