The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has gained attention for several reasons. While it initially promised to reject VIP culture and uphold values like honesty, transparency, and good governance, its record includes scandals, major policy reversals, a malfunctioning administrative system frequently in conflict with the central government or the Lieutenant Governor, and a lavish lifestyle for its leaders, particularly Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
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AAP has also formed alliances with political parties such as Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), groups it had previously accused of corruption and exploiting the nation. Additionally, the party has adopted a propaganda approach reminiscent of Nazi tactics, pioneered by Joseph Goebbels, by shifting blame for its own actions onto others. The latest controversy involves the settlement of illegal Rohingya immigrants in Delhi, with Chief Minister Atishi Marlena expressing her concerns in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 15th.
She referenced a 2022 social media post in which Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that Rohingya migrants would be relocated to EWS (Economically Weaker Section) apartments in the Bakkarwala area of the city. “From the tweet of Shri Hardeep Puri, it seems they were settled into EWS flats of Bakkarwala. These flats were meant for the poor people of Delhi. It appears that the rights and facilities meant for the people of Delhi are being given away to migrants. People of Delhi will not tolerate this,” she claimed.
After the tweet sparked significant controversy, the Modi administration swiftly confirmed that no apartments would be provided to Rohingyas. This statement followed criticism from Arvind Kejriwal, former chief minister and national convenor of her party, who is currently out on bail in an excise policy corruption case and had been forced to resign after the Supreme Court barred him from visiting the Chief Minister’s Office.
Amit Shah had stated in an interview that state governments were responsible for securing India’s 4% unfenced borders. He emphasized that it was their duty to raise awareness among local communities and prevent infiltration from escalating into organized crime. In response, Arvind Kejriwal fired back, accusing the central government of neglecting its constitutional obligation to protect the borders.
The issue surrounding the presence of Rohingya immigrants in Delhi has resurfaced. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has repeatedly claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disregarded the wishes of Delhi’s citizens by allowing Rohingyas into the city. Meanwhile, the BJP has accused AAP of using the Rohingyas as a vote bank, facilitating illegal settlements to gain an electoral advantage. This political dispute is intensifying as Delhi’s assembly elections approach.
Uncovering the Truth Behind AAP's Allegations
The AAP is blatantly using the Rohingya issue as a political tool to secure an edge in the upcoming elections, as both political parties gear up for the polls. The past statements of AAP leaders, along with the policies their administration has enacted to support the Rohingya and even praise them, directly contradict the party's recent anti-Rohingya stance, which seems to be a mere facade aimed at misleading voters.
“I am Amanatullah Khan Okhla MLA and chariman of Delhi Waqf Board. We have distributed one month ration and Rs 10,000 to each Rohingya family living here,” An old video of the AAP veteran has resurfaced on social media, clearly showcasing how his party welcomed the intruders. Interestingly, Khan is also facing charges of financial misconduct and the alleged illegal hiring of staff within the Delhi Waqf Board. Furthermore, he was labeled a history-sheeter in 2022.
A 2020 report revealed that over 300 Rohingya Muslims had unlawfully settled in the Madanpur Khadar area of Delhi and were expanding their presence. The report stated that they had settled in this area, located just across from the cremation ground, and had taken over 5.2 acres of land owned by the Uttar Pradesh government's irrigation department.
These illegal migrants, including Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, had occupied Khasra number 612, land valued in crores. The report also mentioned that they were receiving government benefits, with rations being distributed to them during the lockdown by the Delhi government and Amanatullah Khan. Madanpur Khadar falls within Khan’s Okhla constituency.
In contrast, the disadvantaged residents of New Delhi’s Sarita Vihar area were left to fend for themselves during the same lockdown after being denied aid for not voting in favor of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan. “We said we come from Khadar. So they said that they will not give us ration as we do not vote for them. I said, even all Muslims don’t vote for you, but you are still giving them ration. I told him that someday you give them daal, rice, potatoes, give some to us also but then he drove us away,” a woman complained.
Supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) recognized the significant efforts made by the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi to support Muslims, including "sharanarthi" (refugees or, more controversially, illegal immigrants). This acknowledgment was made in a 2022 video that went viral, captured at an Ahmedabad event organized by the "Muslim Fighters Club," a group of Muslims from Juhapura. Imranbhai, the club's manager, stated that Kejriwal is the only leader who genuinely cares for Muslims, emphasizing that the community has long been a victim of prejudice.
“I have spoken to our Muslim brothers in Delhi and they have said their situation has improved. Arvind Kejriwal takes care of Muslims from every part of the world. He even takes care of Muslim refugees,” he boasted. However, he encouraged the Muslims in the crowd to draw reasonable conclusions instead of explicitly referring to the "refugees."
School for Rohingya Children: Calls for Resettlement and Disdain for Hindu Refugees
In 2022, the proposal to build a Rohingya residential school on the grounds of the Secondary School in Nanakheri village sparked protests from local residents against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The villagers began their agitation after Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Chief Minister Kejriwal opened a school for Rohingya Muslim children.
The protesters expressed concerns that the arrival of the Rohingyas could lead to a rise in criminal activity in the area. Despite the protests lasting over a week, the Delhi government remained firm in its decision. “We have been sitting here for the last eight days, but till now her MLA Gulab Singh has not even visited to inquire about our demands and our condition,” A frustrated local pointed out. “Rohingyas are a threat to our country and Arvind Kejriwal is keeping national security at bay with this move. Rohingyas must leave India,” BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia addressed the issue.
In 2022, the BJP claimed that officials from the Kejriwal administration had sent multiple letters requesting that "infiltrators" be provided with EWS apartments. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta highlighted that while the AAP-led Delhi government ensured the Rohingyas received sufficient food, housing, and other amenities, it had failed to provide a basic electricity connection to Pakistani Hindu refugees residing in a local camp.
“There were numerous communications from the home department of Delhi government and its district magistrate (south east) to FRRO, NDMC and the DCP concerned for providing EWS flats to Rohingyas. Kejriwal government has a duty to identify illegal infiltrators living in the city instead it is busy protecting them. Chief Minister Kejriwal is concerned about infiltrators not refugees” he had charged.
“The audacity of these Pakistanis? First, they infiltrated our country illegally and broke the laws of our country. He should have been in jail. Have they got so much courage that they are protesting and creating ruckus in our country? After CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), Pakistanis and Bangladeshis will spread across the country and harass people. In the selfish interest of making them their vote bank, BJP is pushing the entire country into trouble,” in March of this year, Arvind Kejriwal took to social media following protests by Hindu and Sikh refugees against his blatant fear-mongering and petty political tactics concerning the sensitive issue of the CAA.
In a 7-minute video, Arvind Kejriwal visibly disregarded the struggles of Hindu communities in neighboring Islamic countries while questioning why the Indian government planned to announce new regulations so close to the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. He claimed that if the BJP had accomplished more in the past ten years, it would have highlighted its achievements instead of announcing the CAA guidelines. He also criticized the government for focusing on the CAA rather than addressing pressing issues like unemployment and soaring costs.
Kejriwal accused the BJP-led government of intending to grant citizenship, jobs, housing, and other benefits to a large number of “minorities” from the three neighboring countries. He alleged that these immigrants would receive services that should rightfully belong to the Indian people. Throughout his address, he repeatedly referred to the persecuted minorities, particularly the oppressed Hindus, from nearby Islamic countries as “ghuspathiyas” (illegal immigrants).
Rohingya Muslims: A National Security Threat
The liberal, communist, and Islamist factions in India regard the Rohingyas as innocent victims, but in reality, they are a group of militants who would harm any non-Muslim who stands in their way if given the opportunity. The 2017 murders of innocent Hindus in Myanmar serve as a vivid example of the community's violent nature. A 2018 Amnesty International report revealed that in August 2017, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the armed faction of the Rohingyas, slaughtered up to 99 Hindu men, women, and children, in addition to carrying out other unlawful killings and abductions of Hindu villagers.
The report documented how ARSA militants instilled fear among Hindus and other ethnic groups through these brutal attacks, based on numerous interviews conducted in Myanmar and Bangladesh, along with photographic evidence examined by forensic experts. Additionally, the Rohingyas are linked to global terrorist organizations. Osama Bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda founder, referred to Burma in an interview with the Karachi-based Ummat journal, noting the presence of a large jihadi militia.
Thus, it's unsurprising that Kashmiri militants support the Rohingyas. In a 10-minute audio message on the YouTube channel Ansar Ghazwa, the late Zakir Musa, self-proclaimed leader of the Al-Qaeda affiliate Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind, warned the Indian government against expelling the Rohingya Muslims from Jammu. Musa was killed by Indian security forces in 2019.
Furthermore, the Rohingyas are linked to the Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir (ICS), a terrorist arm of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. This group is responsible for organizing violent protests and attacking security forces, secular politicians, and secular individuals.
Conclusion
The AAP's policies supporting the Rohingyas clearly show a disregard for the nation's security and the legitimate rights of the Indian population. The current uproar is merely a distraction intended to deceive unaware citizens and bolster the party's image ahead of the upcoming election. As previously noted, AAP appears to be emulating the tactics of Nazi propaganda by accusing the BJP of actions that their own party has taken to unfairly benefit the Rohingya community, despite ongoing protests and concerns.
Moreover, their blatant hostility toward efforts to safeguard the lives of innocent Hindus in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, where minorities are being persecuted, coupled with their apparent support for the Rohingyas, speaks volumes about the party's ideology and its focus on vote bank politics.
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