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International Journal of
Population Studies Opinions on Rohingya refugees in India

Table 2. Attitudes toward Rohingya asylum and refugee policies by various demographic and political factors
Demographic/political factor Category 1=Provide 2=Repatriate (%) 3=Intervene to stop the 4=I don’t
asylum (%) flow of refugees (%) know (%)
Gender Women 22 16 26 36
Men 17 24 33 26
Age 18 – 25 21 23 18 38
25 – 34 28 23 28 21
35 – 44 14 18 47 21
45 – 54 7 15 54 24
>55 9 23 50 18
Religion Central India 23 23 14 40
East India 21 16 39 25
North India 20 24 29 27
Northeast India 6 38 19 37
South India 20 18 28 34
Western India 18 25 35 23
Religious identity Hindu 18 21 34 27
Muslim 33 31 6 31
Christian 29 13 23 35
Buddhist 20 20 0 60
Other 9 9 36 46
Party preference All India Trinamool Congress 35 17 26 22
(only showing parties that have >5%
preference among the respondents)
Bharatiya Janata Party 18 23 36 23
Indian National Congress 28 22 32 18

the Rohingya are more likely to support their resettlement, threat to the security of the nation (Outlook, 2023). These
which aligns logically. instances highlight how prominent political figures can
In comparison to other countries, India occupies a influence public discourse by making strong statements
middle ground when it comes to the issue of resettlement. regarding the Rohingya, thus contributing to a particular
It is important to note that India has a relatively smaller narrative about the Rohingya community and their
Rohingya population, and thus, public opinion may not presence in India.
be based on personal experiences with the Rohingya The role of media and information dissemination also
themselves but rather influenced by the government’s plays a significant role. Media outlets serve as a critical
rhetoric. Negative depictions of the Rohingya, including intermediary between the government’s stance and public
labeling them as illegal and a threat to the security of India, perception. If the media amplifies the government’s concerns
have the potential to alter how the general public perceives about security risks or economic burdens associated with
them (Chakraborty, 2018). This change in perception is refugees, the public is more likely to internalize these
often driven by the framing of the issue by politicians and viewpoints as their own. Media framing shapes discourse,
the media. As an example, consider events like those that influencing how people understand and engage with complex
took place in December 2019, when Union Home Minister issues like refugee crises. The media assumes a pivotal role
Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha by stating that in shaping public perceptions of contemporary nation states
“Rohingyas will never be accepted in India,” reiterating and in fostering a shared understanding. It functions as a
that they entered the country through Bangladesh (The platform through which specific nationalist ideologies are
Statesman, 2019). Similarly, in July 2023, another leader promoted, employing the interplay of discourse and ideology
from the BJP, Himanta Biswa Sarma, expressed concern to portray refugees and migrants as outsiders within the
about Rohingya infiltration, deeming it “alarming” and a nation state. An empirical analysis conducted by Awny (2019)

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 54 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2174