Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 16: Reacting to the deportation of a second batch of Indian nationals allegedly living illegally in the United States, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his dissatisfaction with the U.S. choice of using a military aircraft for their return.
“I am not happy about the Americans choosing to send a military aircraft,” Tharoor told ANI. He further questioned the possible mistreatment of the deportees, asking, “I have not seen any report on whether these returnees were also handcuffed and shackled. If they were, we should definitely protest.”
Regarding the U.S. selecting Punjab as the destination for the deportation, Tharoor explained, “On these matters, they usually choose the destination most convenient for the majority of the people on these flights. I believe that the largest single group was from Punjab and Haryana, which is why this airport was chosen.”
An aircraft carrying the second batch of Indian nationals who had allegedly migrated illegally to the U.S. landed at Amritsar airport in the early hours of Sunday.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s remarks on the deportation of Indian nationals from the U.S. “It is not good to do politics on every issue,” Bittu said. “If the migrants are from UP or Gujarat and are landing in Punjab, what is wrong with it? They will be welcomed in Punjab and sent to their respective states.”
Bittu went on to accuse the Punjab CM of being part of the “tukde tukde” gang, a term used to describe those he believes are trying to divide the nation. “He (Bhagwant Mann) is a part of the ‘tukde tukde’ gang who always thinks of dividing the nation. His agents are working in Punjab and illegal shops are running here… isn’t that something to be ashamed of?” Bittu added.
A family member of one of the deported Indian nationals shared the emotional toll of the situation, revealing that the relative had reached the U.S. just eight months ago, spending Rs 50-55 lakh in the process. “He had reached the US eight months ago… his family had sold their land for him to go there. They spent around Rs 50 to 55 lakhs. He went with the help of agents… whatever was done was wrong… we got to know that he was coming back from the news that was flashing,” the family member said.
On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured the public that all arrangements had been made to properly accommodate the deportees. He confirmed that the deportees would stay in Amritsar for a few hours before being sent to their respective states. “Our kids are the ones who are coming here anyway, so from here no one will go hungry. We will make arrangements. We have also made staying arrangements for them. They will stay here for a few hours and then go to their respective states as the flights have already been booked by the Ministry of External Affairs,” Mann said in a press conference in Amritsar on Saturday.