Hardeep Puri announces flats for Rohingyas, MHA says no plans

The ministry further asked the Delhi government to immediately declare the current site of Rohingya settlement as a detention centre

The BJP government at the Centre landed in a controversy on Wednesday after Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the rehabilitation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to flats for economically weaker sections (EWS) in Delhi’s Bakkarwala.

The move, which led to outrage from the party’s supporters, forced the government to issue a clarification. Hours after Puri’s tweet, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the Centre has no intention of moving the Rohingyas, and instead, the Delhi government had proposed to shift them to a new location.

The clarification led to a slugfest between the AAP government in Delhi and the BJP. Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia slammed BJP’s volte-face and said the decision was taken by the Delhi Police on the orders of the Lieutenant General.

This is the third instance in the last few months where BJP core voters expressed anger against a government decision — the previous two being the Bulli Bai episode and the suspension of spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

The MHA said no Rohingya Muslim “illegal foreigners” will be sent to the flats in Bakkerwala. After the ministry's tweets, Puri said the clarification “gives out the correct position” on the matter.

The VHP condemned Puri's announcement saying Rohingyas are not refugees but "infiltrators".