Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani raised concerns in the Gujarat Assembly on Friday regarding the deportation of Gujaratis, particularly highlighting the treatment of Gujaratis under US President Donald Trump’s administration. Speaking during a discussion on a proposal to thank the Governor for his address to the House, Mevani pointed out that despite the state’s claims of being “vibrant” and “dynamic,” many youths from Gujarat had resorted to kabootarbazi (illegal immigration) at the Mexico border. He questioned why, if Gujarat was indeed thriving, its youth had been forced into such desperate measures. According to Mevani, this was a matter of serious concern.\
He attributed this issue to the unmet aspirations of the children of small and marginalized farmers in Gujarat, whose dreams were not being realized within the state.
Mevani went on to criticize the hospitality extended to President Trump during his visit to India, noting that Gujarat had rolled out the “red carpet” for him with grand displays, food offerings worth Rs 2,000-5,000, and extensive celebrations. However, he lamented that Trump did not show any regard for Gujarat. He pointed out that despite the warm welcome, many Gujaratis were deported from the US, often treated like criminals. “Our sons and daughters were sent back in handcuffs as if they were terrorists,” he said, pointing out the insult and humiliation faced by those deported.
Mevani asked why the youths who had been deported had to hide their identities by covering their faces with handkerchiefs. He felt that the state government should focus on addressing the root causes of unemployment and the agricultural crisis in Gujarat, rather than stopping deported youths from speaking to the media. He urged the government to ensure that vacant government jobs were filled, so that the youth of Gujarat would not feel compelled to risk their lives at the Mexico border in search of better opportunities.
Mevani’s comments came in the context of the broader agricultural and employment crisis facing Gujarat. Since Trump assumed office as President of the United States, 74 Gujaratis have been deported from the US.
Trump’s 2020 visit to India, which began in Ahmedabad at the Sardar Patel Motera Stadium (now Narendra Modi Stadium), had seen him receive an extravagant welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mevani’s comments, in contrast, highlighted the painful irony of the warm reception extended to Trump, given the harsh reality faced by many Gujaratis under his administration.
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