Centre doesn't want Rohingyas, questions petitioner's genesis

New Delhi, March 19: The Centre on Monday questioned the credentials of the PIL petitioners seeking to block deportation of Rohingya refugees saying the genesis of the PILs threaten to change the country's demography and destabilize it.

"Go into the question which is the genesis of it (PILs). Who wants to change the demography, destabilise and disintegrate the country? Sovereignty of the nation is paramount," the Centre told Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, urging the top court to allow diplomacy to have its play in dealing with the Rohingya issue.

Pointing to the "interests of the nation" and the steps being taken by the government, Additional Solicitor General Tuishar Mehta told the court that there were "diplomatic solutions" and actions being worked out between India, Bangladesh and Myanmar to address the Rohingya problem.