A Home Ministry spokesperson clarified that no affidavit has been filed on the subject in the Supreme Court, adding that it is in process
It was a red-face moment for the government as an affidavit regarding the deportation of Rohingyas, which was still being filed, was out in public domain. It was later clarified that the copy of the affidavit served to a lawyer associated with the case was a "mistake" as it was not yet finalised.
The affidavit was to be filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the ongoing proceedings in a petition filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan on the Centre's stand to deport Rohingyas, a Muslim community of Myanmar that has faced persecution in their country.
The eight-page draft affidavit, signed by the Deputy Secretary (Foreigners Division ), MHA Ravi S, states, "The decision to deport illegal immigrants (Rohingyas) in the case on hand has been taken in the larger public interest and in the interest of national security."
The draft affidavit also said intelligence agencies, who have submitted their inputs, state that many of the illegal immigrants have managed to fraudulently obtain official Indian identity documents and also "figure in suspected sinister designs of the ISIS/ other extremists groups who have ulterior motives in India..."
A Home Ministry spokesperson clarified that no affidavit has been filed on the subject in the Supreme Court, adding that it is in process.
Some of the Rohingyas with a terror background are found to be active in Jammu (where most of them have been camping), Hyderabad, and Mewat have been identified as posing serious and potential threat to internal security.
It was submitted that due to the large influx of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring countries, the demographic profile of some of the bordering states have undergone a serious change causing far-reaching complications in various contexts.
The affidavit also insists that there are around 40,000 Rohingyas in India, though the United Nations says there are 16,000.
It also added that India's track record in dealing with illegal immigrants from Tibet, Bangladesh, Sri Lankan Tamils has been internationally acclaimed.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday hit out at those criticising the government's decision to deport Rohingyas saying it is a "calibrated design" to "tarnish" India's image.
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