India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to make a statement in Parliament today regarding the deportation of alleged illegal Indian immigrants from the United States.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju announced that Jaishankar will address the Rajya Sabha at 2 PM concerning the deportation issue. He will subsequently speak in the Lok Sabha at 3 PM.
Jaishankar’s address comes amid ongoing protests and slogan chanting by opposition members earlier today.
As Parliament resumed its proceedings on Thursday, opposition MPs called for a discussion on the deportation of 104 Indian nationals, highlighting the inhuman conditions under which they were sent back.
The opposition resorted to sloganeering and protests in the well of the House, despite Speaker Om Birla’s appeals to avoid “planned disruptions.”
“Your concern lies with the government. This issue is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of External Affairs and pertains to an external country. The government is aware of the situation,” Birla stated.
The session experienced multiple adjournments due to the ongoing protests.
As a US military aircraft carrying 104 undocumented immigrants from various states landed in Amritsar, a viral post on social media claimed that Indians were “handcuffed” and “humiliated” onboard the plane, prompting the Indian government to clarify the situation.
However, the PIB Fact Check labeled the video as fake. “A false image is being circulated on social media by numerous accounts claiming that illegal Indian migrants were handcuffed and shackled during their deportation from the US. The image being disseminated does not relate to Indians; it actually depicts individuals deported to Guatemala,” it stated.
A C-17 aircraft transporting Indians?
A C-17 aircraft, reportedly carrying migrants from India, departed from the United States. This flight signifies the first deportation of Indian nationals since Donald Trump’s presidency began on January 20.
The Pentagon has also initiated flights to deport over 5,000 immigrants held by US officials in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. To date, military aircraft have transported migrants to Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras, as reported by Reuters.
On January 24, the Ministry of External Affairs announced its intention to facilitate the return of Indian nationals who are “overstaying” or living without proper documentation in the United States or anywhere worldwide.
During a regular press briefing on January 24, a government representative stated, “We oppose illegal immigration, particularly because it is linked to various forms of organized crime.”
On Thursday, a Congress MP introduced an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget session to deliberate on the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals by the US government, as reported by news agency ANI.
Protests led by Rahul Gandhi and fellow Congress MPs
The motion called for the government to clarify its position on the matter and outline the diplomatic efforts being undertaken to engage with US authorities, ensuring the dignified treatment of the deported individuals.
Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi of the Lok Sabha, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Akhilesh Yadav, head of the Samajwadi Party, protested outside Parliament concerning the deportation of alleged illegal Indian immigrants from the US.
