Bhopal, Oct 14 (PTI) Terming the Rohingya issue asserious, a senior RSS leader said today that "outsiders"should not be allowed to stay in India beyond a specificperiod, and suggested that a policy be formed to deal with therefugees.
More than a million Rohingya people have left Myanmar toescape the violence following military backlash against theMuslim minority after militants raided police posts on August25. Many of the Rohingya refugees have come to India.
"No outsider should have the right to stay in the countryafter a definite period. This is a serious issue and thecountry should think deeply before allowing them in," RSSgeneral secretary (Sarkaryawah) Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi said.
He was talking to reporters here on the last day of thethree-day meeting of the Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal, atop decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
"It should be pondered why they were expelled fromMyanmar. When (the Myanmar government) realised that becauseof them there is a problem in the country, they expelledthem," said Joshi, who is the No. 2 in the RSS hierarchy.
"Earlier too, such people came to our nation and settledin places like Hyderabad and Jammu," he said.
Joshi suggested running a background check on peoplecoming to India in large numbers. "If we don't check thebackground of people coming to the country, then that willpose a threat to the nation's security.""Those who arrived here secured Aadhaar and PAN cards andgot their names included in the voters' list. They did notcome to take refuge... They have come under a conspiracy," hesaid.
Joshi also wondered why the Rohingya did not go to theirneighbouring nations like China and Indonesia. "Taking thisinto consideration, our country should make a policy forthem."When pointed that some people in India were backing theRohingya refugees, he said there was a need to find out whothese people were and what was their background.
On a question on banning of the sale of firecrackers inthe national capital region (NCR), Joshi said there was a needto strike a balance on the issue.
Not all firecrackers should be banned, only those thatcause pollution should be banned, the RSS leader said.
"Tomorrow someone may say burning of oil lamps on Diwalitoo is causing pollution. Therefore, there is a need to thinkseriously and strike a balance."Answering a question on the issue of reservation, he saidthe RSS believes that those availing this facility shoulddecide till what time they want it.
If there were any discrepancies in the quota system, theyshould be removed, he said. "As such, we are in favour ofgiving reservation to those for whom it was meant."Asked about contentious issues like the construction of aRam temple in Ayodhya, Article 370 - which grants specialstatus to Jammu & Kashmir - and the Common Civil Code, he saidthese questions should be asked to the Union government.
The meet, attended by top RSS leaders and delegates,including its head Mohan Bhagwat, reviewed programmesundertaken by the organisation in the past six months. PTI MASLAL RSYABH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.