Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, raising concerns over the resettlement of Rohingyas in the national capital.

The letter, sent amidst an ongoing political tussle between AAP and the BJP, highlights what Atishi described as the Centre’s failure to protect India’s borders, leading to the infiltration and alleged settlement of Rohingyas in Delhi.

Atishi, in her letter, not only questioned the Centre’s border security measures but also accused the BJP-led government of resettling Rohingyas in Delhi, thus taking away resources meant for its residents.

She cited a 2022 social media post by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who had announced the shifting of Rohingya refugees to EWS flats in the city’s Bakkarwala area. Atishi claimed this statement was evidence of the Centre’s active involvement in settling the refugees.

Atishi’s letter follows former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s sharp criticism of Shah during the Aaj Tak Agenda, where the Home Minister addressed the issue of infiltration.

Shah had attributed the responsibility for securing India’s 4% unfenced borders to state governments, saying their role was to sensitise local populations and prevent infiltration from becoming a community crime. Kejriwal fired back, accusing the Centre of abdicating its constitutional responsibility for border security.

“How are infiltrators crossing the borders, both fenced and unfenced, if the Centre is responsible for them? The Union Government cannot shift the blame onto state governments,” Kejriwal said.

Shah had acknowledged the geographical challenges of fencing all borders but claimed that infiltration in Assam had been largely curtailed under the BJP government.

He accused opposition-ruled states like West Bengal and Jharkhand of engaging in vote-bank politics that hinder anti-infiltration measures. Shah also suggested a “larger conspiracy” behind the movement of infiltrators into different parts of the country, including Delhi.

The issue has reignited a prolonged feud between AAP and BJP over the presence of Rohingya immigrants in Delhi. AAP has repeatedly alleged that the BJP settled Rohingyas in the city, accusing it of ignoring the needs of Delhi’s residents.

The BJP, on the other hand, has accused AAP of facilitating illegal settlements to gain electoral advantage by using Rohingyas as a vote bank.

The controversy intensified after India Today’s recent Operation Illegal expose, which delved into issues of infiltration and illegal immigration.

Both parties have since escalated their attacks, with AAP accusing the BJP of prioritising political gains over national security and the BJP dismissing AAP’s claims as baseless rhetoric aimed at deflecting blame for governance issues in Delhi.