Page 55 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Opinions on Rohingya refugees in India

play a crucial role in shaping public opinion through individuals, particularly NGO workers, activists, students,
communication frames that encourage citizens to think and acquaintances, provide support to the Rohingya, while
about an issue in a specific way and adopt certain thought others do not. A Rohingya woman in her fifties from Royal
patterns (Chong & Druckman, 2007). These frames often Colony Settlement No. 5, Balapur, Hyderabad, shared
depict refugees as involved in criminal activities, labeling her experience, stating, “Locals help sometimes, but not
them as “intruders.” Recent studies have demonstrated that much. Their behavior toward us is generally good. We have
the rise in xenophobia and Islamophobia has resulted in a moderate relationship with local people, but in some
more restrictive state policies toward refugees, as observed places, we are viewed with suspicion and hatred” (Personal
in the treatment of the Rohingya community in India communication, 2021). Similarly, a Rohingya man in his
(Basavapatna, 2018; Chaudhury & Samaddar, 2018). mid-twenties from Budena Village, Faridabad, Haryana,
The escalating concern of the BJP-led NDA government expressed concerns about discrimination and animosity
regarding national security, coupled with its stance on from some locals: “Sometimes, on our way home from
religious matters, has led to a more stringent approach work, they taunt us by referring to us as “people of Burma.”
toward the Rohingya refugee population. Consequently, They use abusive language, calling us dirty and wild,
and tell us to go back to where we came from” (Personal
instances of detaining and deporting Rohingya refugees communication, 2021).
from India have become more frequent. Numerous
cases have emerged where Rohingya people have been The next section delves into the specific perceptions
apprehended under the Foreigner Act of 1946 for attempting of the Indian population toward the Rohingya and
to cross the border without valid travel documents. One explores their preferred policy options. The focus extends
notable incident took place in March 2021, when Indian beyond those who have direct contact with the Rohingya
authorities detained over 150 Rohingya refugees who were to encompass the nation as a whole, presenting data
residing in the northern region of Jammu and Kashmir representative of the entire country.
(Singh, 2021). Similarly, in July 2023, authorities in Uttar
Pradesh arrested and detained 74 Rohingya individuals, 2. Methods
including children and a pregnant woman, from multiple 2.1. Data
towns and cities within the state (Global Detention Project,
2023). The grounds for their detention were their alleged The data utilized in this article were obtained from the
illegal border crossing. Sinophone Borderlands Indo-Pacific Survey, which is part
of a global survey project investigating global perceptions
The first recorded case of Rohingya deportation of China and other relevant issues through large-scale
happened in October 2018, involving the deportation of representative online surveys conducted in various
seven Rohingya individuals to Myanmar (Human Rights (selected) regions worldwide. It was conducted in three
Watch, 2018). These individuals had been held in detention East Asian countries (Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan),
at the Silchar central prison in Assam since 2012 on six ASEAN countries (Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the
charges of illegal entry. Their return to Myanmar exposed Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore), Bangladesh, India,
them to potential arbitrary arrest, torture, and even death. Kazakhstan, and Pakistan, and supplemented by samples
Following this, India deported another five Rohingya in Australia and New Zealand. In each of the 15 countries,
people to Myanmar in January 2019 and an additional the survey was conducted with a nationally representative
seven in October 2019 as part of a broader government quota sample (minimum n = 1200) for gender, age, and
crackdown on illegal immigration (Rahman & Pirzada, region. Each country received the core set of questions,
2021). The deportation actions have persisted since then. which focused primarily on perceptions of China, along
These actions have faced criticism from human rights with specific country-related questions (not necessarily
organizations and activists who contend that Rohingya related to China), such as the questions used for this
refugees are fleeing violence and persecution in their home research.
country and should be offered protection and assistance The article focuses on the Indian part of the Sinophone
rather than being subjected to detention and deportation. Borderlands Indo-Pacific Survey. The sample collected

As a result of the Indian state’s explicit refusal to protect in India consists of 1146 respondents and is nationally
the rights of the Rohingya, they are excluded from legal representative in terms of age, gender, and region. However,
protection and face another consequence – a lack of the data are skewed toward more educated and urban
support from the general population. Interviews conducted people (as seen in the demographic breakdown below) as
by one of the authors confirm this, revealing that support these are the groups of the population that can more easily
for the Rohingya among locals is inconsistent. Some be reached by online surveying, and this also constituted

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 49 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2174