Centre orders Rohingya scan and data update... BENGAL NO-DEPORT STAND ON TEST

TT, 02 Oct 2018: Calcutta: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said all states had been asked to initiate steps to identify the Rohingya in India, collate their biometric data and send a list to the Centre.

The move, officials said, is set to test the stance of the Bengal government, which has till now opposed deportation of the Rohingya back to Mayanmar.

"A detailed guideline has been issued to the states. They (the Rohingya) have to be identified and their biometric has to be done. The list (of the Rohingya) has to be sent to the Centre. The Centre will take up the issue with the Myanmar government through diplomatic channels," Singh said at Nabanna after attending a meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council.

The Eastern Zonal Council is a forum of four states -- Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha -- headed by the Union home ministry to discuss issues common to the states and resolve possible differences between them.

Sources in Nabanna said the announcement made by Rajnath in Calcutta in presence of Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee holds significance as the Rohingya are present in Bengal, among the four states that took part in Monday's discussions. "It is uncomfortable for the state because the Union home minister announced the guideline from a stage where Bengal chief minister was also present," the official added. As of now, the Bengal government has not taken any step to identify the Rohingya.

Bengal shares borders with Bangladesh and because the porous frontiers are often blamed for influx, the refugee problem is unique for the state.

Jharkhand Chief minister Raghubar Das, Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi and Odhisa finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera were present at Monday's meeting.

The state had informed the Centre a few months ago that 40 Rohingya had been lodged in jails in the state. Sixty-one others, who have identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, are in shelters. The information was sent after the Centre wanted to know how many Rohingya were identified in the state, sources said.

"The intelligence reports pointed out the presence of 168 Rohingya in South and North 24-Parganas. But the state government mentioned figures which are in official documents," said an official.

A top Bengal official had explained The Telegraph a few days ago that the state government did not take initiatives to identify the refugees from the Rakhine state in Myanmar as it felt that it was not its job to keep track of refugees.

"If they have crossed the international border and taken shelter in the bordering areas of the state, it is the fault of the central agencies as they guard the borders. Also, if they have to be pushed back, it is the Centre's responsibility and the state has nothing to do with it," the official had said.

A section of the officials said the state government's stand on the Rohingya will be tested after the announcement of the Union home minister.

"It is clear that the Centre will now take steps to deport nearly 40,000 Rohingya after getting inputs from the states... It will be tough for the state to oppose the decision as the BJP has started highlighting the issue of illegal immigrants and using it as a political plank. The state will take a decision on the issue soon," said a source.