India: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday expressed concern over the influx of Rohingya Muslims to India from Myanmar, terming them a threat to national security and integrity.

Addressing the customary Vijaydashami gathering at the RSS headquarters on the organisation’s foundation day, he claimed that Rohingyas were driven out from Myanmar mainly because of their violent and criminal separatist activities and linkages with the terrorist groups.

‘Any decision on them should be taken by keeping in mind that they will definitely be a threat to national security and integrity,’ he said.

Bhagwat’s views on Rohingiyas are the reiteration of the central government’s stand on the issue. The centre in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court too claimed that Rohingya refugees were a security threat and they must be deported to Myanmar, the country of their origin, reports Hindustan Times.

India’s position on the community, regarded as one of the most persecuted in the world, however, drew flak from some rights bodies, including Amnesty International.

There are about 40,000 Rohingyas, mostly living in refugee settlements in Jammu.

According to a UN estimate about 500,000 Rohingyas have fled across the border to Bangladesh since violence began in Myanmar’s Rakhain state on August 25.

Concerns have been raised over the possibility of some of these refugees might illegally migrate to India through porous India-Bangladesh border.

‘Nation already has been facing the problem of illegal Bangladeshi migrants and now Rohingyas who are chased away from Myanmar have infiltrated and many more are ready to migrate illegally,’ the RSS chief said.

Bhagwat in his Vijaydashami speech also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of incidents like border standoff with China at Doklam, and international diplomacy.

Modi, meanwhile, congratulated RSS on its 92nd foundation day

‘All the volunteers engaged in patriotism, sacrament and service activities, my best wishes on the foundation day of the RSS,’ Modi tweeted.

The RSS was established in September 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and its foundation day is celebrated annually on Dussehra day.