Pro-Rohingya protest held at Jantar Mantar

Immigrant Rohingya Muslims on Tuesday staged protest at the Jantar Mantar here against persecution of the community in Myanmar and demanded that the Indian government must intervene to save them.

The protest organized by a group named 'Peace Loving Indians' saw scores of protesters shouting slogans like "Stop genocide in Burma", and displayed banners that read "Break your silence for Rohingya" and "Aung San Suu Kyi, is it your real face?"

"We gathered here to express serious concern on the continued military and police crackdown on the civilian population in Northern Arakan in Myanmar," Mohammad Waqar, one of the organisers of the protest, told IANS.

"Since August 25, under the pretext of looking for attackers, the Myanmar military and police forces have been indiscriminately killing the Rohingyas, torching and plundering their homes and villages.

"Thousands of Rohingyas were killed and slaughtered including women and children. More than 6,000 Rohingya houses were set ablaze," he said.

The protesters urged the Indian government to voice their concerns and ask Myanmar to stop the assault against Rohingyas and to provide the victims with necessary humanitarian assistance, including healthcare.

They also urged the Indian state to give shelter to Rohingya victims.

"International media and humanitarian aide workers should be allowed in the affected areas and the Myanmar government should provide full fledged citizenship of Rohingyas," Waqar added.

--IANS

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