JAMMU, Sep 20: Senior BJP leader Raman Suri today said action to send back Rohingyas who have been living illegally in Jammu for years is commendable. This was more than a political issue; it was linked to the security of Jammu and in the recent years, cases involving the alleged involvement of several Rohingyas in criminal activities had increased manifold posing a threat to national security.
Jammu Kashmir is a sensitive region and has remained affected by terrorism for more than three decades. Several districts are located along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan, he said consistently attempts to disturb the situation in Jammu Kashmir and had been responsible for activities ranging from terrorism to narcotics. For carrying out such activities, it needed local support and Rohingyas and Bangladeshis living illegally have therefore remained a concern in this context.
The presence of such people was also causing demographic changes in Jammu Kashmir. He asserted that it was after the assessment of Centre team who visited the region to study these changes and visited Rohingya settlements that such action was warranted. The decision to remove Rohingyas is commendable but many are still settled in several areas and there is a need to send them back in a phased manner.
He added that the ongoing action to identify and send back people illegally residing in Jammu must be viewed primarily from the perspective of security, law and proper verification and a strict vigilance maintained so that these illegal entrants don’t settle anywhere in Jammu Kashmir again. Raman Suri said Jammu Kashmir has faced terrorism and cross-border challenges for decades, making verification of individuals residing in sensitive areas an important administrative responsibility. He said action against anyone found to be residing illegally should be carried out strictly in accordance with law and through due verification procedures.
Referring to the reported assessment of settlements by a Central team, Suri said such exercises can help authorities understand the scale and nature of undocumented or illegal settlements and formulate appropriate administrative measures.