Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Tuesday moved a suspension of business notice in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267, calling for a discussion on the "inhumane deportation of Indians" by the Trump administration.
The motion seeks to address the conditions under which Indian nationals were deported from the United States and criticises the way the exercise was carried out.
Chowdhury’s motion argues that the deportation, which involved a US Air Force plane carrying 20,407 Indian nationals, could have been coordinated better with Indian authorities and executed in a more humane manner.
She called on the Government of India to use diplomatic channels to ensure fair treatment for the deported individuals.
“The entire exercise of reportedly deporting 20,407 Indian immigrants could have been coordinated better with the Indian authorities and in a humane manner. I request that the Government of India use diplomatic channels to ensure that,” the motion read.
Also read: US deportation of Indian nationals sparks row in Parliament
The issue first gained attention when a US Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly migrated illegally to the US arrived in Amritsar, Punjab.
Reports indicate that the deportees were reportedly handcuffed and chained for 40 hours, facing extreme discomfort, including struggles with basic needs such as using the washroom.
Chowdhury emphasised that while the individuals in question may be undocumented, they should not be treated as criminals. She urged the Indian government to step in and use diplomatic avenues to ensure that the deportation was carried out with dignity.
“For 40 hours, these Indians who landed in Amritsar, Punjab were handcuffed, legs chained, and even struggled to use the washroom. In 2023, around 1,100 illegal immigrants were sent back. Reports state that 20,407 undocumented Indians are currently in US detention centres or facing final removal orders,” Chowdhury said in her notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General.
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking action, Chowdhury remarked, "It is a pity that the Hon'ble Prime Minister, who literally coined the slogan ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’ and invited Mr Trump for a grand ‘Namaste Trump’ event in Ahmedabad in September 2019, is unable to use diplomatic channels for better treatment of these Indian immigrants."
She added, "These citizens may be illegal immigrants, but they are not terrorists. India being kept in the same bracket as Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Ecuador, and Colombia, where these immigrants are being deported, does not bode well for our 'Vishwaguru' status."
Chowdhury also noted that despite the close relationship between India and the US, PM Modi was not invited to Trump's swearing-in ceremony, whereas many other heads of state were present.
“The entire exercise of reportedly deporting 20,407 Indian immigrants could have been coordinated better with the Indian authorities and in a humane manner. I request that the Government of India use diplomatic channels to ensure that,” the notice reiterated.
In a related development, Congress MP Manickam Tagore moved a similar adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, urging a discussion on the deportation issue.
A US Air Force plane, which had deported Indian citizens who allegedly migrated illegally to the US, arrived in Amritsar, Punjab, on Wednesday.
A US Embassy spokesperson stated earlier that specific details could not be shared but emphasised that the US is vigorously enforcing its immigration laws.
The spokesperson said, “These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk.”
Also read: US deportation of Indian nationals sparks row in Parliament
Follow us
