Chandigarh, February 07 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Thursday sharply reacted to the handcuffing and chaining of Indians deported by the United States.
Mann took to X to express his anger at the way the deportees were treated. He also criticised the Haryana government for taking deportees in prisoner vans from Amritsar, after they landed in a US military aircraft.
Mann wrote, “What America has done is deeply regrettable. It is a matter of great shame for our country that America sends our citizens in handcuffs and shackles. Instead of applying balm on the wounds of Indians deported from America, who are mentally and economically broke, Modi’s Haryana government is taking them in police prisoner vans. It is like rubbing salt in their wounds.”
On Thursday, the United States Customs and Border Protection (USBP) force released a video showing “illegal immigrants” handcuffed and shackled.
Michael W Banks, Chief, USBP, shared the video of the deportation on X, saying, “USBP and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. This mission underscores our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring swift removals. If you cross illegally, you will be removed.”
The Punjab government had deputed its NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal at the Amritsar airport when the deportees had landed. Dhaliwal spent many hours at that airport on Wednesday and met the youths from Punjab. He had assured them of government support.
Dhaliwal had stated that the government would leave no stone unturned to help these youths, who had returned after spending lakhs and would find it difficult to pay off their loans.
On Thursday, Dhaliwal took to X stating that the youths were not criminals but duped in search of greener pastures by travel agents.
Summary: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann criticizes the handcuffing and shackling of deportees from the US, calling it a great shame for India and urging immediate intervention.