Rohingyas are threat to national security, integrity: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh cheif Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday expressed concern over the influx of Rohingya Muslims to India from Myanmar, terming them a threat to national security and integrity.

Addressing the customary Vijaydashami gathering at the RSS headquarters on the organisation’s foundation day, he claimed that Rohingyas were driven out from Myanmar mainly because of their violent and criminal separatist activities and linkages with the terrorist groups.

“Any decision on them should be taken by keeping in mind that they will definitely be a threat to national security and integrity, “ he said.

Bhagwat’s views on Rohingiyas is the reiteration of the central government’s stand on the issue. The centre in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court too claimed that Rohingya refugees were a security threat and they must be deported to Myanmar, the country of their origin.

India’s position on the community, regarded as one of the most persecuted in the world, however, drew flak from some rights bodies, including Amnesty International.

There are about 40,000 Rohingyas, mostly living in refugee settlements in Jammu.

According to a UN estimate about 500,000 Rohingyas have fled across the border to Bangladesh since violence began in Myanmar’s Rakhain state on August 25.

Concerns have been raised over the possibility of some of these refugees might illegally migrate to India through porous India-Bangladesh border.

“Nation already has been facing the problem of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and now Rohingyas who are chased away from Myanmar have infiltrated and many more are ready to migrate illegally,” the RSS chief said.

Modi govt hailed

Bhagwat in his Vijaydashami speech also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of international diplomacy as well as internal security issues.

Tackling of incidents like border standoff with China at Doklam, manifested India’s “strong and determined stand,” he said, lauding the BJP-led NDA government.

“This definitely makes us realise about our strength and at the same time provides new international standing to Bharat,” Bhagwat said.

The RSS is the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP.

On internal security

On internal security front too, the RSS chief said, situation has improved as all security forces, including the army, have been given the freedom to do their respective duties.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, he said “provocative actions and propaganda” of the separatists is effectively controlled by curbing their illegal financial sources and exposing their linkages with anti-national terrorist forces.

“The positive effects of this strategy are visible on the ground,” he added, stating that the benefits of this should now be taken to the masses in the entire state without any discrimination through transparent and clean governance.

On special provisions for J-K

Bhagwat reiterated the RSS demand for abrogation of a special provision of the Constitution that accords special rights and privileges to the natives of Jammu and Kashmir, which the organisation regarded as discriminatory towards Hindu refugees.

“The problems of permanent residents of state who migrated from the Pakistan occupied Jammu-Kashmir in 1947 and the people who were displaced from the Kashmir valley in 1990 are remaining as it is.

“We have to create conditions so that our these brothers can lead a happy, dignified and secure life like other Indians by availing equal democratic rights and fulfilling democratic duties, even while remaining firm and devoted to their religions and national identity,” the RSS leader demanded.

For this, he said, necessary Constitutional amendments would have to be made to change the old provisions.

“The need to take additional efforts in the field of education, health, livelihood and national values is also realised in the Kashmir valley and the remote border areas of Ladakh,” he added.

West Bengal, Kerala governments flayed

Bhagwat observed that in the bordering states such as West Bengal and Kerala, ruled by Trinamool Congress and the Left Front respectively, attempts were being made to create atmosphere for “disrespecting the Constitutional provisions” on the basis of language, region, sects, religion etc,.

“The state governments and their systematically politicised administrative systems are not only apathetic to this serious national crisis but are also lending a helping hand to the anti-national forces for petty political interests,” he alleged.

Cross border smuggling including that of cow continue to be a matter of concern, he added.

Emphasis on welfare of security personnel

For more effective border guarding, the RSS chief called upon the Centre to expedite the process of equipping security forces with adequate resources, to improve their internal communication and coordination with intelligence agencies, and to ensure national self-reliance in military hardware.

He also emphasised on the need to take care of the security personnel and their families. This assumes significance in the wake of complaints by members of security forces about the treatment being meted out to them by their superiors and the quality of foods being served to them.

“The direct interaction of government with these forces needs to be improved for this purpose,” he added.

Modi congratulates RSS

Modi, meanwhile, congratulated RSS on its 92nd foundation day

“All the volunteers engaged in patriotism, sacrament and service activities, my best wishes on the foundation day of the RSS,” Modi tweeted.

The RSS was launched in September 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and its foundation day is celebrated annually on Dussehra day.

(With agency inputs)