Sanjay Saxena I Lucknow
From Parliament to the streets, the opposition has once again changed its goalposts. Until yesterday, the opposition leaders were raising a ruckus over the stampede incident at the Mahakumbh, but now they are finding political mileage in the issue of Indian nationals residing illegally in the United States and their deportation. In the Budget session of Parliament, the opposition has shifted focus from the Mahakumbh incident to the deportation of Indians illegally residing in the U.S. Parliament has seen protests outside, with opposition MPs demanding a discussion on this issue. Due to the uproar, the proceedings of the House have not been able to run smoothly. Opposition MPs are also protesting in the Parliament complex. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have witnessed disruptions on this issue. During Question Hour, opposition MPs raised the topic of Indian deportations. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed his disappointment, stating that the manner in which the U.S. government deported more than 100 Indians on a military plane is completely inhumane. He demanded that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister address this issue. The opposition is also making jibes about the relationship between Trump and Modi. It seems unlikely that this political drama will end soon, as about 150 more Indians illegally residing in the U.S. are expected to be deported. However, it should not be forgotten that approximately seven lakh Indians are legally living in the U.S. without discrimination. On one hand, some political leaders are criticizing America’s actions to corner the Modi government, while others are questioning when the Indian government will take lessons from this and deport illegal foreigners residing in India. It is estimated that around five crore people are residing illegally in India, and due to appeasement politics, some political parties are nurturing these intruders, helping them obtain Aadhar and PAN cards, and adding their names to the voter list. Meanwhile, these infiltrators are often found involved in criminal activities.
The opposition has found an opportunity for political gain because all the Indians deported from America were brought back in handcuffs and shackles. However, the bigger question is why the U.S. government carried out the deportation in this manner. In response to the entire matter, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stated in the Rajya Sabha that this is not the first time such deportations have occurred. This has been happening year after year. The method of deporting individuals with handcuffs and shackles is not new; America has followed its own rules in this matter. After disembarking from the aircraft, all the deported Indians were sent for customs and immigration checks. The departments are verifying their documents and backgrounds to check whether any of them have criminal records in any state or city of India. If any such record is found, they will be immediately detained, and legal action will be taken according to the law. Currently, the investigation is ongoing. Among the 104 Indians deported from the U.S., 33 are from Gujarat, 34 from Haryana, 30 from Punjab, three from Maharashtra, and two each from Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh. A few children aged between 8 to 10 years are also included. Additionally, the U.S. government had issued a list of 205 individuals. It is unclear when the remaining individuals will be deported. However, the first flight carrying deported illegal immigrants has created a buzz, and there is much political debate surrounding it. But behind this return, India stands to benefit in another way. The Punjab Police has compiled the history of nearly 100 notorious criminals, out of which 20 are suspected to be hiding in the U.S. This raises the possibility that the extradition process of criminals from the U.S. may accelerate.
It is known that several of India’s most wanted criminals are hiding in the U.S., including Anmol Bishnoi, an accused in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case (the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi), Happy Pasia, involved in grenade attacks on police establishments, drug trafficker Sarwan Bhola, and Gopi Navanshariya. According to the police, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the leader of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is also involved in spreading violence in Punjab and promoting illegal immigration, so his operatives may also be among those deported. In this regard, the deportation of illegal immigrants from the U.S. could also assist in curbing criminal activities. The aircraft carrying the deported Indians, a C-17, landed at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport on Wednesday at 2:15 PM. It had taken off from San Antonio, Texas, the previous day and completed a 35-hour flight. Meanwhile, officials from various Indian government departments, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Indian Army, had also arrived at the airport.
After the U.S. plane landed in Amritsar on February 5, a meeting was held at the Aviation Club between U.S. officials and Indian government representatives. Although the specifics of the meeting are not confirmed by any officials, sources suggest that U.S. officials raised the issue of illegal immigration and emphasized the need to prevent it in the future. They also demanded strict action against agents who are involved in sending people abroad illegally.
