iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The third batch of Indian nationals, who are believed to have illegally migrated to the United States, arrived at Amritsar Airport on Sunday. This group of returnees landed just one day after the second batch touched down in the same city.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the US government’s decision to use military aircraft for repatriation. He voiced his dissatisfaction in an interview with ANI, stating, “I am not happy about the Americans choosing to send a military aircraft.”
Tharoor further questioned whether the returnees had been subjected to handcuffs or shackles during their deportation, emphasizing that if so, India should protest.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reassured the public that all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure the proper treatment of the deportees. In a press conference on Saturday, Mann said the returnees would stay in Amritsar for a few hours before being sent to their respective states. “Our kids are the ones which are coming here anyway, so from here no one can go hungry, we will make arrangements,” he said. The Ministry of External Affairs had already made travel arrangements for their onward journey.
This marks the third flight of deportees to land in Amritsar since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The first batch arrived on February 5.
Earlier on Thursday, during a visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s willingness to repatriate its nationals living illegally in the U.S.
He underscored the importance of dismantling the “ecosystem” of human trafficking.
“Those who stay in other countries illegally do not have any legal right to be there. As far as India and the US are concerned, we have always said that those who are verified and are truly the citizens of India – if they live in the US illegally, India is ready to take them back,” Modi stated during a joint press conference with President Trump, expressing confidence that the U.S. would fully cooperate in addressing this issue.
(Photo courtesy: x.com/siddharthpandy)
