GOVT FLATS TO ROHINGYA REFUGEES TRIGGER ROW

New Delhi: A controversy erupted on Wednesday over allotment of government flats to Rohingya refugees in Delhi. Critics said it was against the Centre’s earlier claims that the Rohingya Muslims were not refugees but illegal immigrants and that the Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus from Pakistan living as refugees in the national capital should have been given priority in allotment of flats.

Hours after Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri said Wednesday that all Rohingya refugees would be shifted to EWS flats in Delhi’s Bakkarwala, the office of HM Shah issued a statement denying any such move by Centre. MHA has directed Delhi govt to ensure that the Rohingyas will continue at present location and taken up the matter of their deportation, the HM’s office said. Puri had said Centre planned to resettle around 1,100 Rohingyas, currently living in tents in Madanpur area.