Following the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the United States, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram questioned the Central government on what steps were being taken to prevent Indian youth from leaving the country and entering foreign nations illegally. Addressing the issue, Chidambaram pointed out two key aspects. First, he criticized the "inhuman treatment" of deportees, stating that while they may have entered the U.S. illegally, their deportation should be handled with dignity.

"They cannot be chained and transported in a military aircraft like criminals," he remarked. Second, he questioned why so many Indians risk such dangerous journeys in the first place. "Why do they leave India knowing their experience will be harrowing? Clearly, they believe their conditions here are worse. What is the Indian government doing to stop them from taking such risks?" he asked.

Chidambaram also demanded strict action against agents who mislead and facilitate illegal immigration. "Most of these agents are Indians living in India, helping people enter the U.S. illegally. Why isn’t the government cracking down on them?" he said, urging the Prime Minister to take action. He suggested that when the PM visits the U.S. on February 12, he should raise the issue with American authorities. Earlier on Thursday, opposition leaders strongly criticized the government over the deportations, accusing it of failing to protect Indian citizens and allowing them to be sent back in an "inhuman manner."

Responding to the concerns in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended the government's stance. He clarified that every country has an obligation to take back its nationals if they are found to be residing illegally. He assured Parliament that India was in talks with the U.S. to ensure deported individuals were not mistreated. Jaishankar further explained that the deportations were carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and followed standard procedures that have been in place since 2013. He emphasized that there was no deviation from past practices in the recent deportation on February 5.

Despite the explanation, opposition MPs continued to criticize the government, arguing that the treatment of deported Indians was an "insult to India." Many staged a protest outside Parliament, holding placards and raising slogans against the deportation process. Among the prominent leaders participating in the protest were Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge, as well as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and SP MP Dharmendra Yadav. They demanded immediate government action to address the situation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI