Bhopal: Muslims have urged public representatives of the state to pressurize Myanmar government into normalizing situation in favour of Rohingya Muslims. Coordination Committee of Indian Muslims has also sought Central Government’s support for Rohingyas. The coordination committee comprises All India Muslims Personal law Board, Jammat-e-Islami Hind, Jammat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind, Indian Union Muslim League, All India Milli Council and others.
The committee has announced a state-level convention on Tuesday in Bhopal to discuss Rohingya issue. Myanmar government has maintained that Rohingyas are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. It does not recognize the term Rohingya and prefers to refer them as Bengalis. Committee secretary Masood Ahmed Khan said, “Central Government is expected to exert pressure on Burma Government to create conducive atmosphere for livelihood of Rohingya Muslims who are in majority. Approximately 1 million Rohingyas were living in Myanmar before 2016–17 crisis. Majority of them are Muslim.”
AIMPLB member Arif Masood said, “Even United Nations has expressed concern over Rohingyas’ pitiable condition. India is known as peace loving country and should provide shelter to 40,000 migrants on humanitarian ground. World knows that Rohingyas migrated from undivided India about 100 to 150 years ago. So it is not wise to call them citizens of Bangladesh. They all are Indians and are now being targeted in Burma. Indian government should take up the issue of Rohingyas seriously.”