The Union cabinet will take a call on Baloch separatist Brahamdagh Bugti's request for political asylum. His application is currently being vetted by intelligence agencies.
The Union home ministry has sent Bugti's application to the Intelligence Bureau for security clearance and expects a report in a week. "After an examination of Bugti's application for political asylum, we have sent it to security agencies for an in-depth vetting," a home ministry official said.
India has no comprehensive policy on political asylum. Hence, the final decision rests with the Cabinet, said officials. The home ministry is in favour of giving Bugti a long-term visa as has been done with Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, sources added. India last gave political asylum to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and his followers in 1959, during former PM Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure.
Bugti had applied for asylum at the Indian consulate in Geneva last, week and the application was subsequently forwarded to the ministry of external affairs, which sent it to the home ministry.
According to the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum-seekers in India but the government does not recognise them.
The situation is so complex that the officials in the home ministry are digging through the records of 1959 to check the process. Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.
India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the status of refugees, or its 1967 protocol that stipulates the rights and services the host states must provide the refugees.
NEW DELHI: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India
was on Thursday received by the Home Ministry which is examining it.
"We have received Bugti's application for political asylum and it is under examination," a Home Ministry official said.
Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva three days ago and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry.
India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy.
As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them.
The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process.
In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government.
"Ultimately, it is a political decision at the highest level but we need to follow the process for the requisite paperwork," the official said.
Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.
India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services host states must provide refugees.
Bugti is President and founder of Baloch Republican Party.
He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006.
Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan.
If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year.
Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year.
The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, the official said.
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| Brahamdagh Bugti |
The Union home ministry has sent Bugti's application to the Intelligence Bureau for security clearance and expects a report in a week. "After an examination of Bugti's application for political asylum, we have sent it to security agencies for an in-depth vetting," a home ministry official said.
India has no comprehensive policy on political asylum. Hence, the final decision rests with the Cabinet, said officials. The home ministry is in favour of giving Bugti a long-term visa as has been done with Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, sources added. India last gave political asylum to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and his followers in 1959, during former PM Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure.
Bugti had applied for asylum at the Indian consulate in Geneva last, week and the application was subsequently forwarded to the ministry of external affairs, which sent it to the home ministry.
According to the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum-seekers in India but the government does not recognise them.
The situation is so complex that the officials in the home ministry are digging through the records of 1959 to check the process. Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.
India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the status of refugees, or its 1967 protocol that stipulates the rights and services the host states must provide the refugees.
Government examining political asylum plea of Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti
NEW DELHI: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India
was on Thursday received by the Home Ministry which is examining it.
"We have received Bugti's application for political asylum and it is under examination," a Home Ministry official said.
Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva three days ago and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry.
India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy.
As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them.
The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process.
In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government.
"Ultimately, it is a political decision at the highest level but we need to follow the process for the requisite paperwork," the official said.
Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.
India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services host states must provide refugees.
Bugti is President and founder of Baloch Republican Party.
He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006.
Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan.
If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year.
Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year.
The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, the official said.
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