Protests erupted in Parliament over the deportation of 104 Indian migrants from the United States, with opposition MPs condemning the “inhuman manner” in which they were returned.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, explaining that the use of restraints was part of the US standard operating procedure (SOP). He assured the House that India was engaging with the Trump administration to ensure fair treatment of deportees.
A US Air Force aircraft carrying the 104 Indian nationals landed in Amritsar as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Most deportees were from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. Some claimed they were restrained throughout the journey. US Border Patrol (USBP) chief Michael Banks released a video showing them in restraints while boarding the aircraft.
Jaishankar confirmed that while male deportees were handcuffed and chained, women and children were not restrained.
“The deportations by the US are organised and executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The SOP for deportations by aircraft, effective since 2012, provides for the use of restraint. We have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained,” he said.
He added that deportees were provided with food and medicine during the 10-hour flight and were temporarily unrestrained during toilet breaks.
The issue led to disruptions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Opposition MPs staged protests, with Congress’s K C Venugopal and others wearing handcuffs to highlight the treatment of deportees.
Speaker Om Birla urged MPs to maintain order, saying, “Your matter is with the government. This is the matter of the Ministry of External Affairs. This subject is related to another country. The government has taken cognisance of it.” Despite his appeal, protests continued, leading to a brief adjournment.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the deportations, stating, “We are protesting the way in which this was done. They have every legal right to deport people who are illegally in their country… but to send them like this abruptly in a military aircraft and in handcuffs is an insult to India, it’s an insult to the dignity of Indians.”
Speaking to Vibes of India, Rajya Sabha MP and Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil condemned the treatment of deportees.
“America has treated us very badly and sent 33 Gujaratis to the country with handcuffs and chains like terrorists. Now why are the Gujaratis who came home after all this torture being taken to the police station in Gujarat? They have not committed any crime against our country. The government should be ashamed that we call our state a ‘model’ and developed state, yet it does not provide employment or facilities for the small people, forcing them to go abroad,” Gohil said.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Dediapada Chaitar Vasava echoed similar concerns. He asserted, “People spend between Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore to reach the US for a better quality of life. Now, after this batch of 104 deported Indians, over 2 lakh Gujaratis and nearly 16-17 lakh Indians are scared. We urge the Union government to engage with the US and ensure the safety of our citizens. We also urge the BJP-led state and central governments to create employment opportunities so that people don’t have to resort to illegal means.”
Strict security measures were in place at Ahmedabad airport, where 33 Gujaratis among the deported Indians arrived on Thursday morning. By 5 am, police teams from various districts had gathered to escort them.
“Upon landing, authorities initiated a verification process, recording the names, contact details, and other relevant information of those deported,” an airport official said.
Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials conducted preliminary questioning near the domestic lounge before local police verified details against the list provided by Amritsar authorities.
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi also criticised the US and the BJP-led central government.
“On 5 February, the dictatorial Trump administration disrespected Indian citizens. They deported our fellow Indians with handcuffs and chains. Are they terrorists? Or hard-core criminals? What was the need for this sort of treatment? Why is the BJP government silent on this? It is not just disrespectful to 104 Indians but also to 140 crore Indians. The central government is using taxpayers’ money to organise grand events for Trump while failing to deliver on employment promises, forcing people to leave India for better opportunities,” Doshi alleged.
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