Tathagata Roy, the Tripura governor known for making controversial comments again set the cat among the pigeons, after alleging that ’80 Rohingyas have arrived at a village in West Bengal’.
Tathagata Roy, the Tripura governor known for making controversial comments again set the cat among the pigeons, after alleging that ’80 Rohingyas have arrived at a village in West Bengal’.
He wrote on Twitter: “Some 80 Rohingyas are reported to have arrived at a village called Hardaha in Baruipur,South 24-Parganas,West Bengal. I trust they came with requisite travel documents. Probably visiting relatives. West Bengal,my native state,has always welcomed visitors”
Earlier, the Tripura governor had called Rohingyas a ‘security risk’.
On October 12, 2017 he had claimed that if Rohingya Muslims were allowed to settle in the country, it may prompt an "exodus of the Hindus".
"India does not even share its border with Rakhine State (of Myanmar). Then why on earth should we provide refuge status to these Rohingya. And, if India does that, by the same token it should tomorrow provide refuge to such migrants from any other country," he said.
Asked to elaborate what he meant by a 'bad lot', the 73-year-old governor said, "Some of these so-called refugees have been found in Kashmir and even aligning with separatists."
During his speech at the inauguration of the day-long seminar, he also made a reference to the persecution faced by Hindus in Bangladesh in 1971, and the migration the Liberation War had triggered, to emphasise the issue of refugees.
Roy, who authored the book "My People, Uprooted: A Saga of the Hindus of Eastern Bengal", shared the history of the region and the bloodshed it has suffered.
"If the Rohingya start settling in India, it will affect the demography of the country. And, later may also trigger exodus of the Hindus," he claimed.
Asked about the government's move being opposed by some politicians, he countered, "Those opposing the deportation plan are playing dirty politics."
Home Minister Rajnath Singh in September had said that the Rohingya are "not refugees" who have applied for asylum in India but illegal immigrants who "will be deported".
Stating that "India has been home to refugees, for centuries", the National Human Rights Commission had in August issued a notice to the Centre, saying from the human rights angle, its "intervention is appropriate" in the matter.
The Indian government has maintained its stand that the "issue of national security is involved with regard to illegal immigration which our country can't undermine".
The government told Parliament on August 9 that more than 14,000 Rohingya, registered with the UNHCR, stay in India. However, aid agencies estimate there are about 40,000 Rohingya in the country.
He had also drawn flak on social media for writing: Syam Prasad Mookerjee wrote in his diary on 10/1/1946: "The Hindu-Muslim problem won't b solved without a Civil War". So much like Lincoln!,'
Roy in his tweet said that because of that, Muhammad Ali Jinnah instigated a civil war and got his Pakistan."I was quoting a diary of 70 years back, pre-partition India. And it was prophetic. Because Jinnah unleashed that civil war 7 months later. And Jinnah won that civil war and got his Pakistan. That is ALSO something Dr Mookerjee predicted,' he added.
In the past, he ahs also compared noise created by firecrackers with Azaan.
"Every Diwali fights start over noise pollution from crackers. A few days in a year. But no fight about Azaan over loudspeakers at 4.30 AM!," Roy said in a series of tweets.
Stating that the silence of the 'secular' crowd over noise pollution by Azaan perplexes him, he added, "Loudspeakers are not prescribed in Quran or any Haadis."
"The Muezzin is supposed to shout Aazan from the minarets, which is why the minarets are there! Use of loudspeakers, this is contrary to Islam!," he added.
Earlier also, Roy had raised his voice against the ban on firecrackers and said he was not happy with the prohibition.
"As a Hindu, I am unhappy with the decision of the court, as Diwali is an all India festival and probably, the most important Hindu festival and bursting crackers is a part of it," Roy had said.
The Supreme Court had on October 9 imposed a blanket ban on sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR in the run-up to Diwali to check the alarming pollution level.
With inputs from PTI
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