The Telangana BJP on Thursday lashed out at the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and said that the Telangana government must make public, a list of all 'illegal foreigners' staying in Hyderabad.
Speaking to reporters in the city, BJP MLA G Kishan Reddy said that this was not an issue based on religion or region but on national integrity.
"The Bangladeshis or those from Burma (Myanmar) who are illegally coming, they cannot be identified as refugees. Poverty is already there in the country, basic facilities are not available. India cannot afford to have crores of people from foreign countries. So, I demand that they be identified and sent back to their respective countries, whether Bangladesh or Burma "Kishan Reddy, who is also the floor leader of BJP in state Legislative Assembly, was quoted as saying.
The BJP leader also said that he would write to the Centre on the issue and accused the AIMIM, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, of extending help and support to Rohingyas in the city.
There are 16,000 Rohingyas in India who are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, though their actual number is an estimated 40,000. About 4,000 Rohingyas live In Hyderabad and possess refugee cards.
The first complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) comprising names of 2,89,83,677 people of Assam, was published earlier this week and turned into a major row as 40,07,707 had been left out of the list as they failed to prove their Indian citizenship.
The statement by Kishan Reddy comes days after controversial BJP MLA Raja Singh from Hyderabad said that he would ‘shoot’ Bangladeshi settlers in Assam, who refused to leave India.
In a video posted on his official Facebook page, the Goshamahal MLA said, “Today, a very good decision was taken. I agree completely with the NRC’s decision because what work do these Bangaldeshis have in India? They are living in Assam with an intention to destroy India. The Centre must take steps to send them back as soon as possible. This is my request.”
Raja Singh is a repeat offender having been charged multiple times in the past of hate speech. On a number of occasions, the MLA has been accused of making inflammatory statements and speeches, particularly against Muslims.
The Rajya Sabha was paralysed on the issue of the NRC list this week, with the Opposition accusing the ruling party of playing divisive politics ahead of parliamentary elections.