Centre-AAP govt. tussle over bid to find residential solution for Rohingya

Delhi Police wanted these families to stay in close vicinity for their regular observation

Efforts to find a “medium to long-term” residential solution for over 50 Rohingya refugee families, consisting of an estimated 250 people, under the eyes of the local police are at the core of the latest political tussle between the BJP-led Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party-led (AAP) Delhi government. 

In the works for over a year, a fire at the Rohingya camp in Kanchan Kunj near Kalindi Kunj on June 21, 2021, which claimed 50 hutments, is understood to have triggered the move, according to the minutes of a meeting where it was decided upon, Delhi government sources said.

“It was proposed that these refugees can be shifted to 240 EWS DUSIB Flats constructed at Bakkarwala, which were inspected and found suitable for housing Rohingya,” the minutes stated.

According to a source, the point was to be able to shift all the refugees to one place on the basis of police intelligence inputs recommending it.

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After they settled in the Capital in 2012 for a protest outside the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Vasant Vihar, the source said, suggestions had been occasionally received from NGOs regarding the relocation of the Rohingya refugees to rented accommodations in nearby locations.

“However, as per inputs of Delhi Police departments, the staying of Rohingya persons in close vicinity would be necessary for the police to ensure their regular enumeration/observation” the minutes stated.