UK parliament has passed Rwanda asylum law that will allow the government to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for their claims to be considered by the East African nation. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised yesterday to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks as the upper house of the parliament finally passed the required legislation. Earlier it was delayed for weeks by attempts to alter the plan.
Mr. Sunak said, the government had booked commercial charter planes and trained staff to take migrants to Rwanda. The policy, he hopes will boost his Conservative Party’s flagging fortunes before an election later this year.
Tens of thousands of migrants, many fleeing wars and poverty in Africa, West Asia and Asia, have reached Britain in recent years by crossing the English Channel in small boats on risky journeys organised by people-smuggling gangs.
The critics say the plan to deport people to Rwanda rather than handle asylum seekers at home is inhumane. They cite concerns about the East African country’s own human rights record and the risk asylum seekers may be sent back to countries where they face danger.
Disclaimer: This press release is sourced from News On AIR, Prasar Bharti and Press Information Bureau India (PIB).
