Handcuffs for illegals is US policy: Jaishankar defends deportation process in Parliament
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Parliament on Thursday that the practice of deporting illegal immigrants in handcuffs is part of the United States' policy, which has been in place since 2009. His statement came a day after a US military flight repatriated around 100 Indian immigrants.
Jaishankar noted that Indian citizens were falling victim to unauthorised emigration networks, leading to their deportation. The issue gained attention after visuals of handcuffed Indian deportees sparked outrage in India.
The opposition, led by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the treatment of deported Indians. In a video shared by the All India Congress Committee, Priyanka Gandhi questioned why the government did not intervene.
"A lot was said about PM Modi's friendship with President Trump. Why did he allow this? Couldn't we have sent our own aircraft to bring them back? Is this how humans should be treated—sent back handcuffed and shackled? The EAM and PM must answer," she said.
The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny over illegal immigration policies under US President Donald Trump, who has taken a firm stance on the issue since assuming office on January 20.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
