Muslim League hits out at BJP on Rohingya issue

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Union Muslim League, a key partner in the Congress-led UDF Opposition in the State, Wednesday hit out at the Centre on the Rohingya issue.

"The Congress-led UPA government was with persons who were assaulted,but the present government is with assaulters," IUML General Secretary P K Kunhalikutty, MP, told a press meet here while referring to the Rohingya issue.

Terming the Rohingya refugees as "illegal" immigrants, the centre had recently told the Supreme Court that some of them were part of a "sinister" design of Pakistan's ISI and terror groups such as the ISIS, whose presence in the country will pose a "serious" national security threat.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also last week said Rohingyas were not refugees who have applied for asylum in India but illegal immigrants who "will be deported".

Kunhalikutty said his party was at the forefront to bring the 18 opposition parties at the national level on a single platform to take on the BJP.

"Process of talks with senior leaders in this regard is progressing," he said.

With regard to Kerala politics, he said the CPI-M led LDF was the main rival in the state and BJP at the national level.

On the Vengara assembly bypoll slated for October 11, a seat vacated by him after he was elected to parliament, the IUML leader said the election result would be referendum on the performance of the state government and Centre.