Rohingya crisis: India cannot simply push back those seeking asylum, says Gogoi

NEW DELHI: Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that “Rohingya crisis is a humanitarian one and India cannot simply push back those seeking asylum”.

Veteran Congress leader reacting to The Hindu reports Gogoi said, “As a country which is concerned about human rights, how can we simply push them back into the country from where they are fleeing because of persecution.”

The Hindu on Tuesday said that BJP-led State governments in Assam and Manipur telling the police especially in the border districts, to “push back anyone who tries to cross the border.”

Accusing the Centre of discriminating between refugees on the basis of religion, the three-time Assam Chief Minister said “It is unfortunate if refugees are also divided along religious lines by the BJP governments in the north-east. They talk about population control but says we welcome Hindu Bangladeshis. If the idea is to welcome minorities who are persecuted, then Rohingya qualify too”.