The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the Centre to provide refugee status and extend humanitarian assistance to the people who have entered India, fleeing from Myanmar due to violence in the neighbouring country.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) made the appeal to the Indian government in a statement.
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The Polit Bureau has expressed its deep concern at the Central government’s instruction to the state governments in the Northeast to check the influx of people coming in from Myanmar.
Also read: Don’t allow people from Myanmar to enter into India, Centre tells Northeast states
The Union home ministry in a letter has asked the states to identify “illegal migrants”, hold them and start deportation proceedings.
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“This is an inhuman and anti-democratic stand towards people fleeing the violence perpetrated by the military rulers who have seized power ousting the elected government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi,” the party said.
“The Indian people have great sympathy and support for the neighbouring people of Myanmar who are valiantly protesting against the military takeover,” it added.
The Indian government should reflect this sympathy and not treat the people who have crossed over fearing for their lives as “illegal migrants”, the Polit Bureau said.
“They should be given refugee status and provided humanitarian assistance,” it added.
Meanwhile, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday said incidents of the influx of people from Myanmar into Manipur has not been reported so far.
The Manipur CM said security forces are put on alert at the borders.
“Till now, there is no information about the influx (of Myanmarese) into the state. We have deployed and alerted the security at the border. The matter is a bilateral issue between India and Myanmar. The state cannot take any action on this issue,” said N Biren Singh.