NEW DELHI: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that the Centre was awaiting inputs from the states on its advisory asking them to identify and enrol personal particulars including biometrics of Rohingya immigrants living within their jurisdiction.

“After we get a report from the states, we will send it to the external affairs minister. She will take up the same with Myanmar so that they can be deported,” Rajnath Singh told the House.

The Centre had last month written to J&K and other states having Rohinya settlements, asking them to confine the immigrants to designated locations; record their personal particulars including biometrics and addresses in Myanmar; and not to issue them any identity document in the future. The letter came months after a September 2017 advisory asking states to identify the Rohingya squatters and send their details to the home ministry for initiating the process of their deportation.

Earlier, Congress leader Anand Sharma pointed out that the Rohingya issue was both a regional and global one, with many Rohinyas coming in through the Bangladesh route. He asked if the government was engaged in resolving the Rohingya crisis with Bangladesh, UN and Myanmar. To this Rijiju replied: “We all know the origins of Rohingyas. They come from the Rakhine state of Myanmar. We are requesting Myanmar to take them back,” he said.

Nominated member Swapan Dasgupta pointed out that Rohingyas were not only staying in camps after crossing into India from Bangladesh but that around 40 organisations were also facilitating their illegal arrival and stay. He asked if any action was contemplated against the illegal settlers and the organisations facilitating their stay.

