It’s a fact: Outgoing BSF DG KK Sharma on West Bengal 'friendly' towards Rohingyas remark

Outgoing Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG) KK Sharma on Friday stood behind his earlier claim that West Bengal government was “friendly” to Rohingyas, saying it was a “statement of fact”.

“It's a statement of fact and I don't want to get into a fresh controversy,” news agency ANI quoted Sharma as saying.

On September 7, Sharma had sparked a controversy by saying that the Rohingyas in the country were moving to West Bengal as the state was “slightly friendly” with them. He had even claimed that the Mamata Banerjee government has set up camps for Rohingyas coming from within the country.

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“They (Rohingyas) are also under pressure at some places; so they are going to West Bengal, a state which is slightly friendly with them. They have set up camps for Rohingyas coming from within the country and not from Bangladesh,” Sharma had said.

The remark of Sharma came a day after government named Rajni Kant Mishra as the new Director-General of BSF. Sharma will superannuate on September 30.

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Speaking about the alleged Rohingya infiltration in the country along the India-Bangladesh border, Sharma said, “We have successfully contained the influx of Rohingyas. However smaller groups often try to enter but we haven't allowed them to enter.”

He, however, said that the issue was a “serious and constant” problem and will remain a challenge for the BSF.