SC to take a call on Rohingyas: Rajnath

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will take a call on the central government's plans to deport Rohingya Muslims, who entered the country "illegally", Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.

"An affidavit has been filed. Whatever decision is to be taken, it will be taken by the court," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday it has intelligence inputs of links between some Rohingya Muslims and Pakistan's ISI and the Islamic State, making them "a serious security threat to the country".

The Centre further said in its affidavit in the SC that militant elements among the Rohingya are active in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mewar and Jammu. It added that it will place all intelligence inputs in a sealed envelope before SC on October 3 to prove its claim that Rohingyas are a security threat.

It said many Rohingya have "illegally" got voter identity cards and PAN cards, and some are "using the 'hawala' route to raise money for illegal activities".

In its 15-page affidavit, filed in the SC on a plea by the Rohingya against their deportation, the Centre hinted that the SC shouldn't interfere in executive policy dealing with illegal Rohingya migrants.

The apex court is hearing a plea filed by two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, who are registered as refugees under the UNHCR. They claimed that they have taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there. See P5