Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday described the settlement of Rohingya people in UT as a “humanitarian conflict” and made it clear that “they cannot starve while they are here”. His comments came hours after the BJP demanded a CBI probe into the alleged illegal settlement of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Yahan thanda se hin maar nahi sakte ho (You can’t let them die here in the cold)”, he asked the Indian government to clarify what to do with them. “You have to take care of them until they’re here,” he added.
“We didn’t settle him here. Una liya gaya, hia basaya gaya (They were brought here and settled, but we did not bring them here),” Omar said. “Now if the Centre’s policy (on them) has changed, it will take them back,” he said. “If you (centre) want to take them, take them. But, until they (Rohingya) come here, they cannot be treated like animals. They are human beings and they will be treated as human beings.”
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of an event, the chief minister said: “If they have to be deported, then deport them. If you can send them back then send them and if you can’t, you can’t starve them here. “
Earlier in the day, the BJP called the alleged illegal settlement of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in Jammu and Kashmir a “security concern” and asked Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha to order a CBI probe to identify those involved.
Hitting out at the NC government for providing water connections to Rohingya citizens, J&K BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said illegal settlements in Jammu and Kashmir, especially Jammu, which is a few kilometers from Pakistan, are a security concern.
Urging the LG to order a CBI probe to “investigate and identify those involved in settlement and resettlement of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in Jammu,” Sethi said, “Such persons/elements should be prosecuted for anti-national activities and punished.” “People should recognize those who sympathize with foreign nationals staying illegally and prosecute cases in court,” he added.