Rohingyas will have to leave; they don't fall under 6 minorities as per law: BJP leader

Rohingyas, the persecuted Muslims from Myanmar, will be deported as they do not qualify as religious minorities under the new citizenship act, said Union Minister and BJP leader Jitendra Singh.

Singh informed that a list will be made and biometrics will be collected so that they can be deported from the country.

"They do not belong to the six (religious) minorities (who will be given citizenship under the new law). They do not belong to any of the three (neighbouring) countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan)," he said.

CAA aims to protect Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan by giving them Indian Citizenship. The legislation applies to those who were “forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion." These people will be given citizenship in six years. Previously, anyone seeking Indian citizenship was required to prove 12 years of residence in the country, enabling a foreigner to become a naturalized citizen of India. The cut-off date for those to be given citizenship in India has been fixed at, on or before 31 December 2014.

Thousands of foreigners including Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi nationals, live in Jammu and Samba districts. Their population has grown by over 6,000 between 2008 and 2016, according to government data.

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