Varun Gandhi pitches for 'providing shelter to Rohingya refugees,' gets slammed by MoS Hansraj Ahir

After the senior Bangladeshi minister said that the Rohingyas would not be accorded the official refugee status. The future of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar seems unclear. 

Amidst all of this, BJP MP Varun Gandhi pitched for providing shelter to Rohingya refugees.

Drawing a fine line of difference between refugees fleeing poverty and refugees fleeing persecution he quoted, "India should formulate a national refugee policy to help distinguish between those fleeing persecution and those fleeing poverty."

He also talked about the "discrimination” Afghani and Myanmar immigrants face in Delhi while hunting for houses and jobs. 

Varun Gandhi's viewpoint is very different from what BJP-led government in the centre has submitted in an affidavit to Supreme Court, that poses Rohingya Muslims as a serious security threat to the nation. 

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said,"Rohingya are not refugees, nor have they taken asylum. They are illegal immigrants.” According to reports by News18, BJP has alleged Rohingya links with ISIS and Al Qaeda. 

Counter attacking Varun Gandhi's opinion piece in for Hindi daily Navbharat Times, MoS Home Hansraj Ahir told reporters, "Jo desh ke hith mein sochenga, woh is tarah ke bayan nahi dega (anyone with national interest in mind won't make such statements)." 

My article in NavBharat Times today. #RohingyaCrisis pic.twitter.com/XNMEchcDqs

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) September 26, 2017

“It’s not about my opinion or acceptance. What the government had decided is in national interest. No one should go against the government’s decision on Rohingya,” Ahir added.

BJP leader Shaina NC agreeing with Ahir said, “The government is going its job. Modi government is very competent to handle this situation. If someone is raising the humanitarian angle, he should study the issue better.”

Later, Varun Gandhi to defend himself took to twitter and said: 

My recent piece focused primarily on defining India's asylum policy, with clear demarcations on how we would accept refugees.

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) September 26, 2017

The BJP in the National Executive Meeting held on Monday, supported the government's stand on Rohingya issue.

On the other hand, the Indian Government on humanitarian grounds has sent a relief assistance for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh.