AAP, BJP trade charges on Rohingyas; Kejriwal, Atishi accuse Centre of 'settling' illegal migrants
New Delhi, Dec 15: The blame game between AAP and the BJP over the issue of illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants in Delhi intensified Sunday with Arvind Kejriwal accusing the Centre of "settling" them here and "failing" to secure the country's borders.
The BJP hit back, alleging the AAP was peddling "false narratives" in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls and asking its national convener Kejriwal the "reason for sheltering these criminals".
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi targeted Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri over his old tweets, alleging that settling "a large number of illegal Rohingyas" here was a "conscious decision" of the BJP-led NDA government while the minister accused AAP of indulging in "politics of diversion and half-truths".
Rohingyas and Bangladeshis illegally settling in the national capital has become a major issue in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections due in February 2025.
The BJP had approached the Election Commission alleging that these illegal immigrants have been registered as voters in Delhi "at the behest of AAP".
The AAP supremo, in a statement, questioned why the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre settling Rohingyas in the national capital and robbing Delhiites of their rights and resources.
Referring to a purported remark of the Union home minister about the responsibility of governments in border states to stop infiltration, Kejriwal said, "If Amit Shah says states are now responsible for border security, is the Central government admitting its failure to protect India's borders?"
Citing two tweets by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in 2022, Atishi alleged the Centre has settled a large number of illegal Rohingyas in different parts of the city by keeping the people and the Government of Delhi in the dark.
"This seems to be going on for the past several years. On August 17, 2022, Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri published two tweets that clearly show that it is a 'conscious decision and policy' of the BJP government to settle these refugees in Delhi," she alleged in the letter to Shah.
"From the post of Puri, it seems they were settled into EWS (Economically Backward Class) flats of Bakkarwala. These flats were meant for the poor people of Delhi. It appears that the rights and facilities meant for the people of Delhi are being given away to migrants," Atishi said.
Puri hit back with an X post on Sunday saying, "Aam Aadmi Party continues with its politics of diversion, false narratives and half-truths. Facts and actual position on illegal Rohingya migrants were immediately clarified through a tweet on the same day which they selectively chose to ignore, and continue to do so."
"No Rohingya migrant has been given a government house in Delhi. In fact, contrary to the drummed-up AAP rhetoric, they are actually the ones who play host to the illegal Rohingyas in Delhi, settle them in large numbers, give them electricity and water, and even pay them Rs 10,000," he alleged.
Atishi claimed the Rohingya migrants in Delhi would not just cause law-and-order problems for Delhiites but also "take away their jobs" and strain the city's limited resources.
Citing media reports, she claimed thousands of Rohingya migrants were crossing the India-Bangladesh border every day without any hindrance.
"This shows how the BJP government has completely failed to protect our borders. If this situation continues, is our country in a position to handle such a large number of refugees? The answer is NO. Then why is the BJP government not doing anything to stop this illegal migration?" she asked Shah.
The Delhi chief minister also asked how the immigrants, after crossing the international border, managed to reach Delhi thousands of kilometres away.
"Were these illegal immigrants transported to different parts of India by the BJP government in a systematic manner by keeping the people of India in the dark? How many Rohingyas did you transport and relocate to Delhi?" she posed.
Atishi said it was "most shocking" that the BJP-led Centre "settled" these Rohingyas in different parts of Delhi while the "party-appointed" lieutenant governor directed the Delhi Police to conduct a door-to-door survey to identify Rohingyas.
Last week, the Delhi LG Secretariat directed the chief secretary and police commissioner of Delhi to launch a two-month special drive to identify and take strict action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in the national capital.
She demanded Shah provide a complete list of Rohingyas settled in Delhi and emphasised that no illegal refugees should be settled in the city in future without consulting the people and the Delhi government.
However, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP leaders of "peddling diversionary tactics and false narratives".
"In fact, it is the AAP that has facilitated the settlement of illegal Rohingya migrants in large numbers, providing them with electricity, water, and even financial support since they are their vote banks," he charged.
The Aam Aadmi Party has "consistently sheltered" illegal immigrants to secure their "votes" and now they are attempting to create false narratives as it was exposed by the BJP, Sachdeva alleged.
He also said it is shameful that in addition to "betraying" the people of Delhi with their constant "lies and corruption", now they are also "sheltering" illegal immigrants just "to fuel their hunger for power".
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Zakir Hussain in critical condition; Family issues clarification after reports of his demise
San Francisco: Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, renowned for his extraordinary talent, is in critical condition at a hospital in the United States due to severe heart-related ailments. His manager, Nirmala Bachani, confirmed his hospitalisation in San Francisco.
Amidst widespread reports of his demise, Hussain's family issued a clarification, stating that he is alive but critically ill. "He is still breathing, but very critical. Please pray for him," said his sister, Khurshid Aulia.
Earlier, several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers mistakenly paid tributes to the legendary percussionist on X (formerly Twitter). The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also had to delete its condolence post after the clarification. Hussain’s nephew, Ameer Aulia, also appealed on X, urging people to avoid spreading misinformation and to pray for his recovery.
Born in Bombay as the eldest son of legendary tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain began his illustrious career at the age of 13. Over the decades, he collaborated with global icons, blending Indian classical music with jazz through pioneering projects like Shakti in 1973.
The Padma Vibhushan awardee has enthralled audiences worldwide with his virtuosity and innovative artistry, earning a place among India’s most celebrated classical musicians.
