Context:
Six people were recently arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for reportedly being part of a conspiracy involved in the unlawful trafficking of Rohingya Muslims into Indian territory.
Relevance:
GS II- International Relations (India and its neighbourhood)
Dimensions of the Article:
- Who are the Rohingya?
- What are Issues & Concerns to India’s Security?
- What is the National Investigation Agency?
Who are the Rohingya?
- The Rohingya people are stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar, and the Rohingya Muslims represent the largest percentage of Muslims in Myanmar.
- They have their own language and culture and say they are descendants of Arab traders and other groups who have been in the region for generations.
- They are described by the United Nations (UN) as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.
- But the government of Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country, denies the Rohingya citizenship and even excluded them from the 2014 census, refusing to recognize them as a people. It sees them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
- Although Rohingya history in the region can be traced back to the 8th century, Myanmar law does not recognize the ethnic minority as one of the eight national indigenous races.
- Despite mounting evidence and international pressure, Myanmar continues to deny it all. It says, it is just countering violent insurgent groups.
How does India view the Rohingya issue?
- India maintains that Rohingyas are a threat to its national security and have links with international terror groups.
- India has so far refused to exert any pressure on Myanmar for taking the Rohingyas back and giving them recognition as the citizens of Myanmar.
What are Issues & Concerns to India’s Security?
- National Security Threat: The ongoing illegal immigration of Rohingyas into India, as well as their continued presence in India, has been discovered to have major national security implications and poses serious security dangers.
- Conflict of Interests: It affects the interests of local residents in regions where large numbers of illegal immigrants are arriving.
- Political Instability: When leaders start mobilising citizens against migrants in order to obtain political power, it creates political instability.
- Militancy on the Rise: Persistent attacks on Muslims thought to be illegal immigration have resulted in radicalization.
- Human trafficking: In recent decades, women’s trafficking and human smuggling have become widespread across international borders.
- Disturbance in Law and Order: Illegal migrants who participate in illegal and anti-national activities jeopardise the country’s rule of law and integrity.
What is the National Investigation Agency?
- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act of 2008 established it.
- It is a primary agency tasked with investigating and prosecuting offences affecting India’s sovereignty, security, and integrity, as well as state security and friendly ties with other countries.
- Opposition to atomic and nuclear power plants.
- It carries out the United Nations’, its agencies’, and other international organisations’ international treaties, accords, conventions, and resolutions.
- Its goal is also to fight terrorism in India.
- It acts as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
-Source: Indian Express
