Amid the ongoing controversy over the deportation of Indian nationals from the United States, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Sunday raised concerns about the conditions faced by undocumented Indians in US detention camps.
He also questioned the actions of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in handling the issue.
Manish Tewari’s Statement On Undocumented Indians & Detention Figures
Citing US estimates, Tewari highlighted that there are approximately 725,000 undocumented Indians currently living in the United States. Of these, around 24,000 are reportedly detained in US detention camps. Tewari’s post on X (formerly Twitter) also stated that 487 of these detainees have been served final detention orders, and 298 of them have been positively identified as Indian nationals.
According to US estimates there are 7.25 Lakh undocumented Indians in the United States of America.
24,000 Indians are in US detention camps.
487 have been served final detention orders
298 out of the 487 have been positively identified as Indians.
Would 7.25 Lakh Indians…
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) February 9, 2025
Tewari expressed concern over the possibility of these individuals being deported back to India under degrading conditions, asking, “Would 7.25 lakh Indians be dumped back in India handcuffed & shackled, stripped of their basic human rights and dignity, in US military planes?”
Tewari Criticises Jaishankar’s Statement
Earlier in the week, Tewari criticized External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his remarks in the Lok Sabha regarding the deportations. Tewari accused Jaishankar of defending the use of handcuffs and shackles by the Donald Trump administration during the deportations. He called this position “deeply shocking and acutely disturbing.”
The Congress MP further suggested that Jaishankar’s statement seemed more like that of a “mid-level official of the US government” rather than India’s Foreign Minister. Tewari raised questions about the government’s true concern for the well-being of deported nationals, pointing out that Jaishankar appeared to prioritize American documents over the dignity of Indian citizens.
Opposition Parties Slam Deportations
Tewari’s statements come in the wake of the arrival of a US Air Force plane carrying 104 Indian nationals who were deported for “illegal immigration.”
The plane landed in Amritsar, Punjab, on Wednesday, drawing criticism from opposition parties. Critics in both the Parliament and public forums condemned the manner in which the deportees were brought back, accusing the government of failing to protect its citizens from inhuman treatment.
The opposition also voiced concerns over the deported individuals being ill-treated, with many alleging that they were brought back on a military plane in handcuffs and shackles, further highlighting the controversy surrounding the deportations.
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