Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has voiced his concern over the deportation of Indian citizens from the United States, calling the use of a US military plane for their return “quite unnecessary.” The aircraft, carrying over 100 Indian nationals who allegedly migrated illegally, arrived in Amritsar on Wednesday.
While acknowledging that the US has the right to deport individuals residing illegally in the country, Tharoor emphasized that the manner of deportation was disproportionate, as those being sent back were not criminals and had no malicious intent. Speaking to ANI, Tharoor suggested that the US should have used a commercial or civilian aircraft for deportation, instead of a military plane, which he described as inhumane.
“It’s not the first time we’ve seen deportations. The media only seems to have taken notice because the process happened quicker than expected under President Trump, but over 1,100 Indians were deported during the Biden administration last year,” Tharoor explained. “If you’re in the US illegally, the country has the right to deport you. India, in turn, has an obligation to accept its citizens. There’s little debate about that. However, the forceful return by military aircraft and handcuffing individuals was excessive. They could have been returned on a civilian plane, which would have been more humane.”
Tharoor continued, “The individuals deported may have violated US laws by entering illegally, but they were not criminals. They came to seek a better life, not to cause harm. There’s no need for handcuffs or military planes. I think India should express its disapproval of this approach.”
In response to the growing concerns over immigration, Tharoor also highlighted the need for an updated immigration policy in India. As the former chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs (2014-2019), Tharoor advocated for a new immigration bill, criticizing the existing 1983 legislation as outdated and inadequate for current immigration challenges.
“Deportation is just one issue. Safe, legal migration, workers’ rights, and the duties of embassies all need to be addressed. The government has been promising a new immigration bill since 2015, but it has yet to materialize, even after nine years. This delay is concerning,” Tharoor noted.
Tharoor also commented on reports of handcuffing among the deported individuals, describing it as unacceptable. “I’ve read interviews with people claiming they were handcuffed. If true, this is disgraceful. Indians deserve to be treated with dignity. They should not be subject to such treatment, regardless of their immigration status.”
The Congress MP also spoke on the recent violence in Bangladesh, where protesters reportedly vandalized the residence of the country’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Tharoor expressed regret over the incident but acknowledged that it was an internal matter for Bangladesh to handle. “It’s tragic, but it’s not for India to intervene. India can only express its regret but must respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty,” Tharoor concluded.
