Opposition protests Modi govt's silence on 'inhumane' deportation of Indians from US

New Delhi: “Inhumane” deportation of undocumented Indians from the United States triggered Opposition protests inside and outside Parliament on Thursday with MPs taking exception to them being transported in a military aircraft and asking the government why India could not send an aircraft like Columbia and other countries did.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed vociferous protests leading to frequent adjournments before External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made statements in both Houses while I.N.D.I.A. bloc held a demonstration in Parliament House with some of its MPs participating with handcuffs and carrying placards like “Humans. Not prisoners”.

Top Opposition leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were part of the protest where MPs also raised slogans like “Indians insulted. India won’t stay silent”. The protest came as deportees claimed that their hands and legs were cuffed throughout the 40-hour-flight and were unshackled only at Amritsar airport.

Kharge said I.N.D.I.A. bloc would not tolerate the “humiliation” of Indians, while Rahul shared the video of a deportee and said, “Prime Minister, listen to this man’s pain. Indians deserve dignity and humanity, not handcuffs”.

Akhilesh asked, “The question is not just about these Indians being sent back in inhuman conditions. They showed people a dream that India is going to be Vishwaguru. Now they are all quiet.”

Priyanka said, “We have been hearing that Modi and Trump are good friends...Why did he allow this to happen? The Prime Minister should answer.”

In Rajya Sabha, MPs were allowed to seek clarifications from Jaishankar after he made a statement. The MPs asked him about the US using a military aircraft, the handcuffing of deportees, action against agents who sent them illegally to the US, consular access, returning of the wealth accumulated by those deported and the fate of other undocumented Indians in the US.

MPs like Randeep Surjewala, Saket Gokhale and John Brittas asked why India could not send an aircraft like Columbia and some other countries did. Congress’ Surjewala asked whether people left because the government could not keep its promise of two crore jobs every year, while Trinamool Congress’ Gokhale said economic distress led people to flee from India.

RJD’s Manoj K Jha said someone may call the deportees “illegal immigrants” but they are “genuine” Indian citizens and asked whether India would raise the “inhumane” treatment meted out to them by the US at bilateral and multilateral fora.

CPI’s P Sandosh Kumar referred to Indian families staying in the US and members having different status and asked whether the government has any information about their status. Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will raise the issue strongly with US President Donald Trump when he meets him next month.

While Rajya Sabha witnessed an adjournment over the issue during Question Hour, no business except the statement by Jaishankar happened in Lok Sabha where Opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the House whenever the House functioned demanding an immediate discussion on the issue.

While Jaishankar was reading out the statement, Opposition MPs shouted slogans and when they were disallowed to seek clarifications, the protest grew louder prompting Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House for the day. It could not start the discussion on the Budget as scheduled and it would now take place on Friday.