Chidambaram Calls Indian Deportees’ Arrival a ‘Test for Indian Diplomacy’

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said that the arrival of the second US aircraft carrying Indian deportees would serve as a crucial “test” for Indian diplomacy.

“All eyes will be on the US aircraft which will land today in Amritsar bringing back illegal immigrants. Will the deportees be handcuffed and their legs tied with ropes?” Chidambaram questioned in a post on X. He further remarked, “It is a test for Indian diplomacy.”

A flight carrying 119 Indian deportees from the United States is set to land at Amritsar airport between 10 pm and 11 pm on Saturday. Among those deported, 67 are from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, and two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, with one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

According to officials, many of these individuals entered the US illegally via Mexico and other routes, allegedly destroying their passports upon arrival. The deportation comes amid an ongoing crackdown by the Donald Trump administration against illegal immigrants.

This marks the second batch of Indian deportees being sent back. Earlier, on February 5, a US Air Force plane carrying 104 Indian nationals landed in Amritsar. Reports from the previous batch of deportees claimed they were handcuffed and shackled throughout the journey, sparking nationwide outrage.

The opposition has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take up the issue with the US government, questioning whether the Indian administration will ensure the deportees are treated with dignity.