Terming the BJP a communal party, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) on Friday criticised the Central government’s stance on the Rohingya refugees.
‘Religion a factor’
In a statement, TNCC president Su. Thirunavukkarasar urged the Modi-led government to provide aid on humanitarian grounds and offer temporary accommodation to the Rohingya, who have been fleeing Myanmar amid a military crackdown. He alleged that the government’s decision to return these refugees to their country of origin was on account of their religious identity.
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Stating that India had a history of welcoming refugees, he pointed to former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi welcoming refugees from Tibet and Bangladesh respectively. India had also accepted Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, Mr. Thirunavukkarasar noted.