Amid furious protests by the opposition in Parliament over the deportation of 104 Indian nationals from the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday told the Rajya Sabha that "the use of restraints during deportation was part of America's standard operating procedure (SOP)".
Jaishankar assured the House that the government was actively engaging with the Donald Trump administration to ensure that Indian deportees were not mistreated.
"The deportations by the US are organised and executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The SOP for deportations by aircraft, effective from 2012, provides for the use of restraint. We have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained," he said.
The Minister confirmed that male deportees were handcuffed and chained but emphasised that women and children were spared from such treatment. "Wherever necessary, we remain engaged with the US to ensure deportees are treated properly," he added.
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The opposition, led by Congress's KC Venugopal, expressed strong disapproval over the incident. Several MPs protested by wearing handcuffs in Parliament premises to highlight the plight of the deportees.
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla urged MPs to avoid "planned disruptions" after opposition members stormed the well of the House, demanding answers from the government.
"This matter pertains to the Ministry of External Affairs. The government has taken cognisance of it," Birla said before briefly adjourning the session.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned the deportation procedure, stating, "They have every legal right to deport people who are illegally in their country... but to send them like this abruptly in a military aircraft and in handcuffs is an insult to India, it's an insult to the dignity of Indians."
Earlier this week, a US Air Force aircraft carrying 104 Indian nationals landed in Amritsar as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants. The majority of deportees hail from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat.
Many deportees claimed they were handcuffed and had their feet chained throughout the journey, being unshackled only after landing in India. The incident sheds light on the dangers faced by those attempting to reach the US via the hazardous 'donkey route.'
The protests over the deportation reflect broader concerns about diplomatic engagement and the treatment of Indian nationals abroad.
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