Second Flight of Deported Indians from US to Arrive in Amritsar Amid Political Controversy
A second flight carrying Indian immigrants deported from the United States is expected to land in Amritsar on February 15, with another deportation flight anticipated soon after, according to sources. This follows the arrival of a US military aircraft on February 5, which carried 104 deported migrants, marking one of the largest deportation operations under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The decision to land these flights in Amritsar has sparked political controversy, with Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema accusing the BJP-led central government of targeting Punjab. He alleged that the government is trying to defame Punjab by choosing Amritsar as the landing site, questioning why similar flights were not directed to other states like Haryana or Gujarat. “This is clearly an attempt by the BJP to tarnish Punjab’s image. This aircraft should land in Ahmedabad instead,” Cheema argued.
The deportees, who had attempted to enter the US through unauthorized means, reported experiencing inhumane treatment during their journey. They alleged that they were shackled hand and foot throughout the flight and were only unshackled after landing in India. In response, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged the issue of mistreatment as a “valid concern” and assured that the Indian government would raise the matter with US authorities.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, clarified that the deportation of Indian immigrants from the US is not a new occurrence, highlighting that 15,668 illegal Indian immigrants have been deported since 2009. However, he emphasized that the government remains committed to ensuring the fair treatment of its citizens abroad.
Senior advocate KK Mannan stated that the deported individuals would face no legal action in India unless they were found to have traveled with fake or fabricated documents.
This deportation issue comes at a sensitive time, as immigration and reciprocal tariffs are expected to be key topics during the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. The talks are part of Trump’s broader strategy to reshape America’s relationships with the world.
Prime Minister Modi, who recently arrived in Washington DC following a successful visit to France, is also scheduled to meet tech mogul Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy during his US visit.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
