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Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, on Thursday moved an adjournment motion in the House to address the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals by the United States government.

Gogoi described the deportations as “deeply distressing and humiliating,” demanding immediate action from the government to protect the dignity of Indian citizens abroad.

In his notice, Gogoi stressed the need for the House to “urgently address the issue to prevent further dehumanisation of our people and to uphold the dignity of every Indian, both at home and abroad.”

He expressed alarm over reports indicating that the deported individuals had been shackled and treated in a degrading manner, raising serious concerns about human dignity and rights.

“While the immediate issue concerns the treatment of our citizens abroad, it also reflects broader concerns regarding India’s diplomatic posture on human rights,” said Gogoi.

He criticised the Government of India for its “continued silence,” particularly regarding the lack of response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Last year, I had raised the issue of illegal immigration and the increasing number of individuals migrating abroad in larger numbers than before. This situation is driven by the lack of sufficient opportunities and support within the country, forcing many individuals to take… pic.twitter.com/U07PlkRqHH

— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) February 6, 2025

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The absence of any comment or action by the government, Gogoi argued, has created the perception that the government is indifferent to the rights and dignity of Indian nationals.

 

“The government’s continued silence in the face of such blatant mistreatment is unacceptable and fails to reflect the values of justice, fairness, and compassion that India stands for,” he added.

A US Air Force military plane carrying the Indian citizens, who had allegedly migrated illegally to the US, arrived in Amritsar, Punjab, on Wednesday.

The US Embassy, in a statement issued on Tuesday, confirmed that the United States is “vigorously enforcing its border and immigration laws.”

A spokesperson stated that the actions taken were meant to send a “clear message that illegal migration is not worth the risk.”

“I have received a number of inquiries on the report of a deportation flight to India. I can't share any details on those inquiries, but I can share, on the record, that the United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message that illegal migration is not worth the risk,” the spokesperson said.

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