Hyderabad, February 7: Congress senior leader and Advisor to Telangana Government (SC, ST, OBC & Minorities) Mohammed Ali Shabbir strongly condemned the deportation of 104 Indians from the United States in a military aircraft, calling it an “insult to India and the dignity of Indians.” He demanded that the Modi government take immediate action to protest the manner in which these individuals were sent back.
“A U.S. military aircraft carrying 104 Indian immigrants, who were staying illegally in the U.S., landed in Amritsar on Wednesday (February 5). This is the first such batch deported under Donald Trump’s administration as part of a crackdown on illegal immigrants. While the deportation itself may not be surprising, the manner and timing of these actions should be a serious cause for concern for India,” Shabbir Ali said while addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday.
He pointed out that the deportees were reportedly shackled throughout the journey, with their hands and legs cuffed, and were only unshackled after landing in Amritsar. “Why were they treated like criminals? These are people who went to the U.S. in search of a livelihood, not terrorists. How dare the U.S. treat them like this? Why were they not sent in a civilian aircraft? This is an outright humiliation,” he said.
Shabbir Ali slammed the Modi government for its silence on the issue and demanded a strong response from the External Affairs Ministry. “Was the Ministry of External Affairs unaware of this deportation drive? PM Narendra Modi boasts about making India a ‘Vishwa Guru’. He even claims to have stopped the Russia-Ukraine war to rescue Indian students. But what did he do to ensure a dignified exit for these Indians from the U.S.? Instead of standing up for the dignity of our citizens, Modi was busy campaigning in Delhi Assembly elections. In the past, Modi even gave the slogan ‘Phir Ek Baar Trump Sarkar’. What did Indians gain from this? Only humiliation,” he questioned.
He further pointed out that the deportation coincided with Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigrants after being sworn in as President in January. “India, which allegedly has a sizeable number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., must brace itself for more such deportations. However, the use of military flights for the first time signals that the U.S. does not intend to be challenged on this issue. Other nations, including Colombia, have protested similar actions, yet the Modi government remains silent,” he added.
Shabbir Ali questioned why the Centre failed to arrange a dignified and humane return for its own citizens. “India is the world’s fifth-largest economy. If countries like Colombia – which don’t even rank among the top 10 – can send aircraft to repatriate their citizens with respect, what stops our government from doing the same? Why couldn’t the Centre arrange a plane to bring back its citizens in a dignified manner? This is not just a failure of governance; it is a failure of responsibility,” he said.
He reminded the government of its responsibility to accept its citizens, provided they are verified Indians, but insisted that the treatment of deportees must be dignified. “The Indian government must not only demand an explanation from the U.S. for this atrocious behavior but also ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future. If we do not react strongly now, other countries too will dare to humiliate Indians. An insult to any Indian anywhere in the world is an insult to the entire country. We must act tough and send a strong message that India will not tolerate such humiliation,” he asserted.
Shabbir Ali contrasted the BJP government’s apathy with the proactive measures taken by the previous Congress-led UPA government for NRIs. “As the Minister for NRI Affairs, I ensured that 1,241 immigrants detained in the UAE for not having proper documents were brought back in October 2007 with free air tickets provided by the Andhra Pradesh government. In September 2008, nearly 45,000 people were brought back home. I personally led a five-member delegation to study the condition of Telugus in Gulf countries and made arrangements for their return. We also helped 10,000 workers obtain necessary documents at the Abu Dhabi Immigration Centre,” he recalled.
He highlighted various welfare measures undertaken by the Congress government for Gulf migrants and their families, including job fairs in Sircilla, Jagitial, Kamareddy, and other places, assistance to families of missing NRIs, and the establishment of an Attestation Centre at the Secretariat for authentication of documents, which saved NRIs from the hassle of travelling to Delhi. “This was a first-of-its-kind initiative, not even available in states with high Gulf migration like Kerala,” he said.
Shabbir Ali urged the Modi government to learn from the Congress-led initiatives and take immediate steps to protect the dignity of Indian immigrants. “The BJP government is more focused on elections than the dignity of our people. We need a leadership that stands up for its citizens, not one that remains silent in the face of humiliation,” he said.
He demanded the dismissal of External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar for his failure to handle the situation. He said he would write a letter to PM Modi on the issue besides sending the details of how the previous Congress-led UPA regime helped the Indians stranded in foreign countries. (eom)
