Those howling over NRC should read UN definition, says Tathagata Roy

Kolkata: Tripura governor Tathagata Roy on Tuesday said those “howling” over the complete draft of the NRC in Assam should read the definition of ‘refugees’ by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In a series of tweets this morning, he also said that Muslims entering India are not refugees as they have not faced any persecution in their home countries.    

Roy’s remarks came in the wake of a statement by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Expressing concern over the exclusion of over 40 lakh people in the NRC draft, Banerjee had on Monday said those “Indian citizens have become refugees in their own land”.

However, the Tripura governor said people entering another country in search of employment or economic opportunities are “infiltrators”.

“Those who are howling about the exclusion of people from the final draft of Assam NRC are advised to read the definition of the word ‘refugee’ given by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Any old person crossing from his country to another is NOT a refugee,” he tweeted. “Only those who flee their countries because of genuine fear of persecution because of religion, ethnicity, political belief etc are refugees. People entering another country in search of employment or economic opportunities are NOT refugees. They are INFILTRATORS (sic),” Mr Roy, former president of BJP’s West Bengal unit, said.