Hours after Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced rehabilitating Rohingya Muslims in Delhi, the union government backtracks on its decision to give refuge to Rohingyas in the national capital. As per the information shared by the Union Ministry for Home Affairs on Twitter on August 17, 2022: 

With respect to news reports in certain sections of media regarding Rohingya illegal foreigners, it is clarified that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi.

The statement further said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is preparing for the deportation of illegal Rohingya infiltrators. It said: 

Government of Delhi proposed to shift the Rohingyas to a new location. MHA has directed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to ensure that the Rohingya illegal foreigners will continue at the present location as MHA has already taken up the matter of their deportation with the concerned country through MEA. 

 The statement further said: 

Illegal foreigners are to be kept in Detention Centre till their deportation as per law. The Government of Delhi has not declared the present location as a Detention Centre. They have been directed to do the same immediately.

Earlier Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs had announced that Rohingya Muslim ‘refugees’ will be shifted to EWS flats in the Bakkarwala area of Delhi, where they will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs, and security. The minister further said that India respects and follows the 1951 United Nations (UN) Refugee Convention and thus it provides refuge to all, regardless of their race, religion or creed.

India is currently not a party to the 1951 United Nations (UN) Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.