Modi Should Personally Take Up Treatment of Indian Deportees With Trump in Washington Next Week

3 hours ago 6

Modi should personally take up treatment of Indian deportees with Trump when he meets him in Washington next week: former Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. .......................................... One of India’s most highly regarded diplomats and a former Foreign Secretary has said that Prime Minister Modi, when he visits Washington DC between the 12th and the 14th of February, as he is believed to be planning to do, should personally and directly take up with President Trump the way in which Indian deportees were treated by the US authorities when a 104 were deported to India earlier this week. Shyam Saran said: “As far as I know there’s a likelihood of the Prime Minister himself travelling to Washington. I think this is an issue when, the issue of immigration comes up in the talks, this is an issue which should be taken up at the highest level … I certainly think that, since in any case the immigration issue is likely to come up in those talks, this particular aspect should also be covered.” In a 22-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Shyam Saran strenuously pointed out that the handcuffing and shackling of Indian deportees is inhuman, undignified and unacceptable. Just because its custom and practice in America does not make it an appropriate and acceptable way of handling the situation. Mr. Saran also pointed out that he would say the same thing when, from time to time, prisoners, who are just accused and not guilty, are handcuffed and shackled in India or when alleged Bangladeshi illegal immigrants are ‘mistreated’ in India. I will stop there. There is a lot in this interview that you should see and hear for yourself. Mr. Saran has discussed the subject, and all its details, consequences and ramifications, with considerable analysis and insight. I do not wish to paraphrase or precis what he said in case I convey the wrong impression. Instead, to help you, I will share with you the main questions put to him. Here they are:- 1) The deportation of a 104 Indian illegal immigrants by the US government, who were sent back in handcuffs and shackled on a military plane, has annoyed both the Opposition and the media. This is the issue I want to discuss with you today. Let’s take it step by step. First, was shackling and handcuffing them inhuman and undignified or given that is American practice since 2012 and everyone is treated the same is this something India has to accept? 2) When the Devyani Khobragade incident happened in New York in 2013 India strongly objected to her being handcuffed and strip-searched even though that was American practice. Isn’t it strange that the Modi government has behaved differently this time and accepted without demur American treatment of Indian citizens? 3) Even if it’s American custom and practice, was the Head of the United States Border Patrol, Michael Banks, justified in posting a 24 second video on X showing Indian deportees in handcuffs and shackles? What do you make of that sort of deliberate publicity? 4) On the other hand, the truth is prisoners who are just accused and not guilty have on occasion been taken to Court in India in handcuffs and shackles. How can we object to the Americans doing the same thing? 5) Now the Indian government has said that it was assured by America that women and children were not handcuffed and shackled and that the deportees were unrestrained during toilet breaks. But deportees who have spoken to the Hindustan Times have said that women and children were restrained and these restraints were not removed even when they went to the toilet. Does it sound as if the Americans mislead the Indian government? Join The Wire's Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, member-only emojis, live interaction with The Wire's founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWtJey46brNr7qHQpN6KLQ/join

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