Congress MP Manish Tewari on Friday sharply criticized External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s statement in the Lok Sabha regarding the deportation of Indian nationals from the United States. Tewari accused Jaishankar of “defending” the use of handcuffs and shackles by the Donald Trump administration, calling the minister’s remarks “deeply shocking and acutely disturbing.”
Tewari expressed concern that Jaishankar’s statement seemed more in line with the perspective of a “mid-level official” from the US government rather than that of India’s Foreign Minister.
In a post on X, Tewari wrote, “The statement of @DrSJaishankar in the Lok Sabha justifying, defending and endorsing the use of handcuffs and shackles by the @realDonaldTrump administration & @USBPChief is both deeply shocking and acutely disturbing.”
He further criticized Jaishankar for sounding more like a US government official than India’s representative on the international stage. “This part of the statement, where he says he will put American documents on the table and authenticate them, makes one seriously question the intent of the Government of India. Where does their concern truly lie?” he added.
Tewari also compared India’s response to the treatment of deportees to that of countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala, which, he argued, showed more self-respect in similar situations. “Does the concern lie with the humiliating treatment of Indian citizens or with those who handcuffed and shackled them? Even Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala showed more self-respect,” he said.
The Congress MP quoted Jaishankar’s statement, which he found particularly troubling: “I repeat to you, these are procedures in place from 2012, which provide for the use of restraints. I have an American document of 2012 which lays out the restraint procedure. I authenticate it, and I will lay it on the table of the House.”
On February 5, a US Air Force plane carrying Indian nationals who were deported from the US landed in Amritsar, Punjab. A total of 104 Indian nationals, who had reportedly immigrated illegally to the US, were on board. The deportation sparked outrage from opposition parties, who condemned the inhuman manner in which the deportees were treated, including being handcuffed and shackled during the flight.
In his statement, Jaishankar explained that the deportation of Indian nationals is not a new issue and that the government is in talks with the US to ensure the safety and well-being of the deportees during transit. He reiterated that deportations are managed by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and follow a standard operating procedure that has been in place since 2012.
Jaishankar also clarified that, as per ICE procedures, women and children are not restrained, and the needs of deportees, including food and medical care, are attended to during transit. He emphasized that there had been no changes to the deportation process for the flight on February 5.
“We are engaging the US Government to ensure that the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner during the flight,” Jaishankar stated. He also emphasized the government’s focus on cracking down on illegal migration while ensuring that legitimate travelers can easily obtain visas.
