Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, ramped up his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration on Thursday. He focused on reports alleging that Indian illegal immigrants deported by the United States on a military plane were ‘handcuffed’. Sharing footage of one of the deportees, Rahul Gandhi quoted the individual stating, “For 40 hours, we were handcuffed, our feet bound with chains, and we were not permitted to move an inch from our seats.”
“Prime Minister, heed the anguish of this man. Indians are entitled to dignity and humane treatment,” Rahul Gandhi added.
What did the Indian deportee reveal?
The remarks were from an illegal immigrant, Harvinder Singh, who was returned to India by the US on Wednesday. Singh recounted to the Indian Express, “On February 2, they removed us from our rooms, handcuffed us, and placed shackles on our feet.”
“They informed us that we were being taken to a camp and didn’t disclose that we were being deported. They then loaded us onto a bus. Throughout this time, our …,” Singh continued.
Further describing his experience, Singh explained, “They transported us to the airport, placed us on a flight, and informed us that we were heading back to India. We made stops at two locations before arriving at Amritsar. The entire journey lasted 40 hours. For those 40 hours, we were handcuffed, our feet chained, and we weren’t allowed to shift from our seats.”
“Only after frequent requests were we permitted to use the restroom, and someone was always there to accompany us,” Singh recounted.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
The deportees arrived in Amritsar, alleging that they were handcuffed and shackled throughout their journey. The deportations occurred as US President Donald Trump’s administration began enforcing stricter immigration policies.
The deportation of illegal Indians from the US has ignited considerable controversy, eliciting responses from various political figures:
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: The Congress MP criticized the government, questioning why PM Modi did not take action, especially given his amicable rapport with US President Donald Trump. She wondered why the Indian government hadn’t arranged a flight to bring them back and condemned the alleged use of handcuffs and shackles.
Opposition protests: Demonstrators asserted that they had been shackled during the journey on a US military aircraft to Amritsar. They gathered outside Parliament holding placards and donned handcuffs to protest against the deportations. Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also urged PM Modi to address the issue with US President Trump.
What did Jaishankar say about the handcuffing of Indians?
On Thursday, Jaishankar stated that the government is engaging with the US to ensure that deported Indians are treated humanely, emphasizing that the main focus should be on combating the illegal migration industry.
The minister noted that the process of deportation is not something new.
“The standard operating protocol for deportation by aircraft allows for the use of restraints. However, we have been assured that women and children are not restrained,” he mentioned.
“Further necessities related to food and other essentials, including potential medical emergencies, are addressed. During restroom breaks, deportees may be temporarily unrestrained, if necessary. This policy applies to both chartered civilian and military aircraft,” he elaborated.
“There has been no alteration in the procedures from previous flights taken by the US on February 5, 2025,” he concluded.
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