Hardeep Singh Puri, union minister for housing and urban affairs, tweeted on Wednesday that the Indian government will provide housing and police protection to the Rohingya refugees in Delhi. Just a few hours later, the union home ministry denied there was such a plan. Instead of clarifying, however, that Puri was mistaken, the home ministry blamed the media. Quite unfairly, since news organisations including ANI, Reuters, Hindustan Times, India Today, and Business Standard had merely accurately reported Puri’s statement.
We should add that ANI was one of the first to report on it, saying Rohingya refugees would be given flats – a decision taken after a "high-level meeting" in Delhi.
India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country. In a landmark decision all #Rohingya #Refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice protection. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/E5ShkHOxqE
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 17, 2022
Rohingya Illegal Foreigners
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) August 17, 2022
Press release-https://t.co/eDjb9JK1u1 pic.twitter.com/uKduPd1hRR
The home ministry added that illegal foreigners will be kept in detention centres until they are deported. The Delhi government has not declared their present location as a detention centre, the ministry said, so it has been directed to do that immediately.
The home ministry’s “clarification” came after Puri’s statement drew angry reactions from his government’s supporters on social media.
India is not a dharamsala which gives shelter to sleeper cells in the form of gunpowder in their homes. No convention is made by playing with the security of the nation.
— Kanti varma (@KaantiD) August 17, 2022
This disaster should happen immediately outside India. @narendramodi @AmitShah #RohingyaGoBack pic.twitter.com/HesyCsfY9y
I strongly oppose this decision, #RohingyaGoBack , we don't want wastage of the society in our country, this is not your perpetual property that you can offer to anyone
— Sunil Rana (@sunilrana74) August 17, 2022
Yes - whether it's government of BJP or any other party, appeasement of infiltrators cannot be tolerated by nationalists. Government MUST roll back the decision else will have to face the consequences from Majority community. #RohingyaGoBack #DeportRohingyas https://t.co/HZd6LCQJcJ
— Jaya (@Jayfromsouth1) August 17, 2022
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