Rohingya Muslims in India | 15 Mar 2022
For Prelims: National Investigation Agency (NIA), Rohingya Muslims, United Nations , South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
For Mains: Security Concern of India & its Neighbourhood.
Why in News?
Recently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested six people who were allegedly part of a syndicate involved in the illegal trafficking of Rohingya Muslims into Indian territory.
Who are Rohingya Muslims?
- Rohingya Muslims are described by the United Nations as the most persecuted minority in the world.
- They fled their homes in 2017 to escape an alleged crackdown by the Myanmarese military.
- To escape discrimination and violence in Myanmar, minority Rohingya Muslims have for decades fled from the Buddhist-majority country to neighbouring Bangladesh and other countries, including India.
What are Issues & Concerns to India’s Security?
- Threat to National Security: The continuance of the illegal immigration of Rohingyas into India and their continued stay in India is found to be having serious national security ramifications and poses serious security threats.
- Clash of Interests: It impacts the interests of local populations in the areas seeing large-scale influxes of illegal immigrants.
- Political Instability: It also increases the political instability when leaders start mobilising the perception of the citizens of the country against the migrants by the elites to grab political power.
- Rise of Militancy: The persistent attacks against the Muslims perceived as illegal migrants have given way to radicalisation.
- Human trafficking: In recent decades, trafficking of women and human smuggling has become quite rampant across the borders.
- Disturbance in Law and Order: The rule of law and integrity of the country are undermined by the illegal migrants who are engaged in illegal and anti-national activities.
What is the National Investigation Agency?
- It was constituted under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008. It is a central agency to investigate and prosecute offences:
- Affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, security of State, friendly relations with foreign States.
- Against atomic and nuclear facilities.
- Smuggling in High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency.
- It implements international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations.
- It’s objective is also to combat terror in India. It acts as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
Way Forward
- Need for Refugee Protection Framework: In spite of not being a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, India has been one of the largest recipients of refugees in the world.
- Therefore, if India had domestic legislation regarding refugees, it could have deterred any oppressive government in the neighbourhood from persecuting their population and making them flee to India.
- SAARC Framework on Refugees: India should take the initiative to encourage other countries in the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to develop a SAARC convention or declaration on refugees.