Opposition MPs Protest Over Deportation Of Indian Nationals From US

Opposition MPs, including Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders, staged a protest in Parliament on Thursday, demanding a discussion over the recent deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the United States.

Several MPs participated in the protest, including Amritsar MP Gurujit Singh Aujla. They wore handcuffs to express their concerns over the treatment of the deportees.

Speaking on the matter, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla stated, “The way they were brought in was wrong. They were humiliated. Their hands and feet were chained. When our government already knew that they were going to be deported, then they should have sent a commercial flight to bring them back.”

“They went there illegally, but they did not commit any huge crime after going there. We have given a notice to the Speaker and there may be a discussion on this,” he further added.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav, and other opposition leaders joined Aujla, holding placards that read ‘Humans, not prisoners’ to condemn the inhumane treatment of Indian nationals during the deportation process.

‘Govt’s Silence On Deportation Unacceptable’

Criticizing the government’s silence, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav questioned, “Those who were showing the dream of making India Vishwaguru, why are they silent now? Indian citizens are deported to India by being handcuffed like slaves and in inhumane conditions. What the external affairs ministry is doing? What did the govt do to protect children and women from this disrespect? We want the government to reply to this and allow the opposition to discuss the issue in parliament.”

Echoing these concerns, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asserted, “A lot of things were said that President Trump and PM Modi are very good friends. Why did PM Modi let this happen? Couldn’t we have sent our own aircraft to bring them back? Is this how humans are behaved with? That they are sent back handcuffed and shackled? EAM and PM should answer.”

Gaurav Gogoi, Shashi Tharoor Expresses Disappointment

Other Congress MPs, including Gaurav Gogoi and Shashi Tharoor, also voiced their disappointment with the deportation process.

“I am very disappointed with this conduct of the American government. America and India share good relations, but the manner in which they have sent back more than 100 Indian nationals handcuffed and their feet shackled in a military plane is absolutely inhumane. I am surprised that the PM is silent. Why is MEA silent? I think MEA and PM should make a statement about this,” stated Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.

Meanwhile, Congress submitted an Adjournment Motion in the Lok Sabha demanding an urgent discussion on the issue.

The Motion read, “This House must urgently address the issue to prevent further dehumanisation of our people and to uphold the dignity of every Indian, both at home and abroad.”

Disruptions caused by the protest led to the adjournment of the Lok Sabha until 2 PM.

Shashi Tharoor Comments On Deportation Frequency

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told ANI, “It’s not the first time we’ve had people deported. It’s just that the media has suddenly woken up to this story because Mr. Trump has done it a bit quicker than people expected. But last year, under the Biden Administration, over 1,100 Indians were deported back.”

“If you are in the US illegally, the US has the right to deport you, and if your identity as an Indian is confirmed, then India has an obligation to accept you. So, in both cases, there really isn’t much debate. However, it wasn’t good to hear that they were brought back forcibly in a military plane, handcuffed, and so on. That was quite unnecessary. It should have been enough to put them on a commercial aircraft or civilian plane and send them back. If you want to do a mass deportation, do it on civilian charters. That would have been the more humane thing to do. They may have broken your laws by entering your country, but by and large, they have no bad intentions,” he added.

Tharoor further noted, “They are not criminals, and they are not convicted of anything else. They are there to make a better life for themselves, which they attempted by violating your laws. So, you can send them out. But handcuffing them, putting them on a military aircraft, and sending them this way- I think India should say that this is not entirely advisable.”

Shashi Tharoor Posts Thread On US Deportation Of Indian Migrants

Taking to X, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor posted, “A short thread on #indiansdeported from the US:

The media kerfuffle over the deportation of 150+ illegal Indian migrants from the United States yesterday obscures a few facts:

1. This is not the first such planeload, nor is it directly related to the ascent of @realDonaldTrump. There were 1100 Indians deported in the previous fiscal year (ending September 2024), under Biden, not Trump.

2. As of 2022, there were 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US – the third-largest group, outnumbered only by nationals of Mexico and El Salvador.

3. Since October 2020, US Customs and Border Protection officials have detained nearly 170,000 Indian migrants attempting to cross the border illegally from either Canada or Mexico. They are all subject to deportation.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a US Embassy spokesperson reaffirmed the country’s firm stance on immigration enforcement, stating that authorities are actively upholding border laws.

Without disclosing specific details, the spokesperson stressed that these measures serve as a strong deterrent against illegal migration.

“I have received a number of inquiries on the report of a deportation flight to India. I can’t share any details on those inquiries, but I can share, on the record, that the United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk,” a US Embassy spokesperson asserted.

Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi Criticizes Government Over Deportation Of Indian Nationals From US