West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the central government for not taking measurement over the deportation of illegal Indians from the U🔯nited States in restraints as she stated that "It is a matter of shame for the country."
Addressing a party con♋ference in Kolkata on Thursday, Banerjee also questioned Centre's alleged silence on the issue. She is not the first opposition leader to have pointed this out, but even in the next two batches of immigrants, it has been reported that the restraints did not come off the 🐻hands and legs of the Indian immigrants until the plane landed in India. The Sikh deportees also reportedly complained of their turbans being removed for security purposes.
Banerjee during her address stated that it was the responsibilit🧔y of the government to ensure that the Indian immigrants are treated with respect in their way back.
Banerjee reportedly said, “Whenever elections approach, the BJP talks about infiltration, but our citizens are deported from the US in chains. Those who returned were brought back in chains. Why? It is a matter of sha💯me for ﷺthe country."
When PM Narendra Modi visited US and held a meeting with President Donald Trump, the reporters questioned him about the immigration crackdown there to which he said, “We are of the opinion that anybody who enters and lives in another country illegally, they have absolutely no legal right or authorit⭕y to live in that country.”
PM Modi added that as far as India and the US are concerned, “we have 🌳always said that those who are verified Indian citizens and who are living in the US illegally, India is prepared to take them back.”
Drawing a comparison, Banerjee pointed out that Colombia arranged planes to bring back its citizens, and questioned why the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre could not do the same.
“If Colombia can send planes to bring back its citizens, why can’t our central go🧸vernment ensure a humane return for our people?🤡” she asked.
Other Opposition Leaders Also Criticised Indian Authorities
Congress MP Man🍌ish Tewari on Thursday expressed anguish over handcuffing of illegal Indian immigrants, who were deported by the US government, calling it "absolutely inhuman".
Senior C♕ongress leader and C🐠handigarh MP Tewari said, "This is absolutely inhuman to handcuff and shackle people, not allow them to even use the toilet for 40 hours while deporting them is medieval."
"What is there crime? They went lౠooking for a better life. They did it illegally but that does not make them criminals that they need to be bound hand and foot and treated worse than animals."
Samaj wadi Party chief Akhilesh💜 Yadav𒐪 also slammed the External Affairs Ministry for failing to "protect children and women from this disrespect". "We want the government to reply to this..."
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the issue in Parliament earlier this month where he said, "Deportations by the U.S. are organised and executed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcemen༺t (ICE). The standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE, effective from 2012, provides for the use of restraints" and added that the women and children are not restrained.
