Illegal migrants: Foreign Minister Jaishankar said everything, but did not condemn handcuffing and shackling

Yusuf Kirmani ,February 72025

On Thursday, the opposition unanimously condemned and protested against the handcuffing of illegal immigrants sent from the US. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded. He told everything but did not condemn US President Trump or the US government on behalf of the government. India did not learn anything even from a country like Colombia.

There was a lot of uproar in both the houses of Parliament on Thursday, 6 February, on the issue of illegal immigrants. The government did not allow the opposition to raise this issue in both the houses. Jaishankar gave a statement. He told everything but not once did he condemn the US government or President Trump for sending Indians from there in an inhumane manner, handcuffed and shackled.

“It is the policy of the US government to handcuff illegal people. -S. Jaishankar Foreign Minister, 6 February 2025 Source: Sansad TV

More than 100 Indians handcuffed and shackled landed from a US military plane in Amritsar on Wednesday. When their pictures spread through social media and their story came in the media, people were shocked. Opposition MPs had given notice in the morning to raise this issue in Parliament. But the Speaker in Lok Sabha and the Deputy Chairman in Rajya Sabha did not allow any MP to question it. After the boycott and protest by the opposition, the government asked S Jaishankar to give a statement. Jaishankar said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the process of deportation is not new. People have been deported for many years. He said that New Delhi is talking to Washington to ensure that Indians deported from America are not mistreated on their return to the country.

“We are engaging the US government to ensure the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner,” he said.#BudgetSession2025 #IllegalImmigrants pic.twitter.com/cou85NUmEg— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) February 6, 2025

The External Affairs Minister said that “Honourable members know that people-to-people exchanges are the bedrock of our deep ties with the United States. Discouraging illegal immigration is in our (India-US) collective interest.” Jaishankar said, it is the responsibility of all countries to take back their citizens if they are found living illegally abroad. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar targeted the opposition. He said that the opposition should not “mislead” the House and the public with its protests. He said that all deported migrants will be checked with their agents to ensure that they do not go to any country without following proper procedures. Jaishankar also presented data in the Rajya Sabha on the number of Indians deported by the US. However, the number of people deported to the US increased since 2014. According to the Foreign Minister, 591 people were deported in 2014, 708 in 2015, 1303 in 2016, 1,024 in 2017, 1,180 in 2018, 2,042 in 2019, 1,889 in 2020, 805 in 2021, 862 in 2022, 670 in 2023, 1,368 in 2024 and 104 people were deported so far in 2025. Opposition not satisfied The House was not satisfied with the answer of the Foreign Minister. Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan said, “This behavior of America is inhuman. Why were the Indians brought back handcuffed? Did they commit any crime? This is an insult to the country. The government should consult the opposition and inform us about what action is being taken in response to this.”

LIVE | ‘Handcuffing illegals is a US government policy’: EAM #SJaishankar briefs #Parliament on deportation of Indians from US

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said, “Generally, we don’t comment on foreign affairs, but the way they have been deported in handcuffs is not acceptable… This is a gross violation of human rights… I sincerely believe that the Indian government should express strong disagreement…”

Akhilesh’s questionsSP chief Akhilesh Yadav also cornered the government on this issue and asked many questions. Akhilesh has written on Twitter- The question is not only that America, due to circumstances, has shackled Indians like slaves and sent them to India in inhuman conditions… ⁠The question is also that why have those who claim to be Vishwa Guru become silent? The question is also that what is our Foreign Ministry doing? ⁠ The question is also that what has our government done to save women and children from these humiliating conditions?

A news on which our questions are point by point:

• The question is not only that America, due to circumstances, tied Indians in chains like slaves and sent them to India in inhuman conditions…
• The question is also that why those who claim to be Vishwa Guru have become silent?
• The question is also that our…— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 6, 2025

This is Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, whose courage is being discussed on social media.

We should have learned from Colombia. Many leaders outside the House and common people on social media advised the Modi government that if India wanted, it could have learned something from a country like Colombia. People are giving the example of Colombia and its President. Colombia did not allow Trump’s military plane to land in its country. Trump had suffered a setback about a week ago when Colombia turned back the US military plane regarding sending back migrants by military plane. On this, Donald Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on Colombia. The Colombian government had said that it would ensure that its citizens are not expelled from America with disrespect. In this regard, the Colombian President’s office had laid special emphasis on the words ‘respectful return’ in its statement