Jaishankar Stresses Nation's Duty in Deportation Issue

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Thursday addressed the ongoing issue of Indian citizens being deported from the United States, emphasizing that it is the fundamental duty of all nations to take back their nationals found residing illegally abroad.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar asserted, "All countries must take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad." His statement comes amid growing concerns over the recent deportation of over 100 Indian citizens from the US.

The minister assured the Parliament that the Indian government remains in active communication with US authorities to ensure that deportees are treated humanely. At the same time, he underscored the need for stringent measures against networks facilitating illegal migration. "We are engaging with the US government to ensure that the deportees are not mistreated in any manner. At the same time, the House will appreciate that our focus should be on a strong crackdown against the illegal immigration industry," he stated.

Jaishankar further indicated that Indian law enforcement agencies would act on information provided by deported individuals to take exemplary action against agents and networks involved in illegal immigration. "On the basis of information provided by the deportees, law enforcement agencies will take necessary, preventive, and exemplary action against the agents and such agencies," he added.

His remarks were made in response to protests by opposition MPs, who demanded a parliamentary discussion on the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the US. Several opposition members, including Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, were seen demonstrating with handcuffs as a symbolic protest against the deportation process.

According to reports, a US military aircraft carrying more than 100 Indian nationals who had allegedly entered the country illegally landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. Among them, 33 were from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh.

Reacting to the development, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor acknowledged the US government’s legal right to deport individuals residing in the country without proper documentation. However, he criticized the manner in which deportation was being carried out, calling it "unnecessary" and lacking a humane approach. "They are not criminals, nor do they have bad intentions. The US should have deported them on commercial aircraft or civilian planes," Tharoor remarked.