Rohingyas on their exodus from Myanmar.

WHO ARE ROHINGYAS

ROHINGYAS IN NUMBERS

INDIA HAS NO REFUGEE LAW

BUT, INDIA HAS OPENED ITS DOORS TO REFUGEES

WHY GOVT PLANS TO DEPORT ROHINGYAS

THERE'S A PROBLEM IN DEPORTING ROHINGYAS

UN URGES INDIA TO FOLLOW 'CUSTOMARY LAW'

SC TO HEAR PLEA ON DEPORTATION OF ROHINGYAS

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has sought to know government's stand on a plea challenging its plan to deport Rohingya refugees. India has for decades sheltered people fleeing conflict and disaster, though it is not signatory to any pacts obligating it to offer refuge. Here, a look at the Rohingyas' desperate situation:1. Myanmar has not recognised the Rohingya among its 135 ethnic groups under a 1982 citizenship Act.2. The Myanmar government terms them 'Bengali' to paint the Muslim minority in Rakhine state as recent migrants from Bangladesh.3. In Myanmar, the word Rohingya is taboo.1. There are about 10 lakhs Rohingyas in Myanmar.2. About 1.23 lakh have fled to Bangladesh since August 25.3. There are abput 40,000 Rohingya in Jammu, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.1. India is not a signatory to 1951 UN refugee convention, or its 1967 Protocol2. The government decides asylum pleas on ad hoc and case-to-case basis3. Asylum-seekers whose plea is okayed are given long-term visa (LTV) to be renewed annually4. Long-term visa gives them right to work in private sector and access to education and banking1. Tibetans, the Chakmas of Bangladesh, Afghans and ethnic Tamil from Sri Lanka are among those given refuge in India.2. Tibetans (about 1L) got asylum. Can take land on lease and seek jobs in the private sector3. Tamil refugees, mostly in Tamil Nadu, numbering about a lakh get state government aid4. In 2016, the Modi government allowed Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to buy property for self-living, obtain driving licences, receive PAN and Aadhaar IDs, etc.MoS Home Kiren Rijiju has said India wants to deport all illegal immigrants even those with UNHCR papers because...1. Immigrants are susceptible to recruitment by "terror" groups2. They "not only infringe on rights of Indian citizens but also pose grave security challenges"3. Influx of migrants also leads to social, political and cultural problems4. The idea to "ensure the demographic pattern of India is not disturbed"1. India has said it is talking with Bangladesh and Myanmar about deportation.2. Myanmarese laws have rendered Rohingyas stateless, hence they are left with no 'home' to return to.1. The 'principle of nonrefoulement' is binding on all states whether they have signed UN's refugee convention or not2. The customary law says refugees cannot be forcibly returned to a place where they face persecution or threats to their life or freedomThe government's plan was challenged in SC, the next hearing is on September 11.In Video: Why India is refusing refuge to Rohingyas