Parliament in Turmoil
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. This meeting took place as outrage grew over the deportation of 104 Indians who had entered the U.S. illegally. The minister is set to address Parliament on the issue. Consequently, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned shortly after starting. The Opposition demanded a debate on the “deeply distressing and humiliating” deportation process.
U.S. Military Aircraft Lands in India
A U.S. military aircraft landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. It carried 104 illegal Indian immigrants. This marks the first large-scale deportation of Indians under Donald Trump’s administration. The U.S. conducted this operation as part of its crackdown on illegal immigration.
Breakdown of Deportees
Officials reported the origin of the deportees. They stated that 33 came from Haryana and 33 from Gujarat. Thirty deportees were from Punjab, while three each were from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Two came from Chandigarh. Among them, 19 were women and 13 were minors. The minors included a four-year-old boy and two girls, aged five and seven.
Swift Action by Authorities
After landing, authorities acted quickly. Multiple agencies questioned the deportees inside the Amritsar airport terminal. The Punjab Police and central intelligence checked them for any criminal records. Those residing in Amritsar were taken home in police vehicles. In contrast, deportees from Gujarat landed at the Ahmedabad airport earlier on Thursday.
Diplomatic Timing
This U.S. action comes just days before a significant diplomatic visit. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Washington on February 13. He will hold wide-ranging talks with President Donald Trump. The timing of the deportations adds pressure to the upcoming discussions.
