Opposition MPs in India criticised the government over the deportation of 104 Indian nationals who were illegally staying in the United States. The deportees, who arrived in Amritsar on a US military aircraft on Wednesday, claimed their hands and legs were cuffed throughout the journey and only released upon arrival at the airport.
The Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid the vociferous protests by the Opposition over the deportation matter.
Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Shashi Tharoor, along with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, staged protests in Parliament, condemning the treatment of the deportees.
Some opposition members even wore handcuffs during the demonstration. They questioned why India’s diplomatic relations with the US were not leveraged to prevent such treatment, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra specifically asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is said to have a good relationship with former President Donald Trump, did not take action to ensure a more respectful deportation process.
“A lot of things were said that Modi ji and Trump ji are very good friends. Why did Modi ji let this happen, couldn’t we have sent our plane to get them.” “Is this the way one should be behaving with people that they are sent back in handcuffs and chains,” he said.
Asked if the External Affairs Minister should give an answer, she said, “He should answer, the PM should give an answer. Is this the way?”
Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and KC Venugopal also slammed the government’s handling of the situation, accusing it of weakness and saying that Modi’s personal image mattered more than the dignity of the Indian citizens involved.
“The way women were treated and brought back hand cuffed like criminals…we will not tolerate the insult to the country,” Gogoi told reporters in Parliament complex. “It is a black day…the prime minister is silent,” he said.
Tharoor, while acknowledging the US’s legal right to deport illegal immigrants, suggested that a civilian aircraft could have been used instead of a military one.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Chirag Paswan urged the opposition not to politicise the issue, calling it a policy decision, and stated that the government would share its stance at an appropriate time.