Video of cuffed deported Indians !! :::::: Jaishankar says India was engaging the US to ensure deportees are 'not mistreated' in any manner

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, said India was engaging the US to ensure the deportees are not mistreated in any manner.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha that the use of restraints was part of America's standard operating procedure (SOP). 

Several opposition MPs, including Congress's KC Venugopal, protested in the Parliament premises by wearing "handcuffs" to highlight the plight of the Indian deportees.  

Dr Jaishankar bats for strong crackdown on illegal migration industry

Opposition MPs protest in Parliament wearing handcuffs

"The deportations by the US are organised and executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The SOP for deportations by aircraft, effective from 2012, provides for the use of restraint. We have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained," Jaishankar said. 

He was speaking in the Rajya Sabha.

The Minister assured the opposition that India was engaging the Donald Trump administration to ensure that the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner.  

The Minister said that the deportees were given food and medicine during the 10-hour flight. However, he underscored that the government's focus should be on a strong crackdown on the illegal immigration industry.

"During toilet breaks, the deportees are temporarily unrestrained if needed. This is applicable to chartered civilian aircraft as well as military aircraft and there has been no change from the past procedures," he said.

On Wednesday, a US Air Force aircraft carrying 104 Indian nationals landed in Amritsar as part of Donald Trump's crackdown against illegal immigrants. Most of the deportees were from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat.

The Indian nationals claimed they were handcuffed and their feet tied with chains throughout the journey. US Border Patrol (USBP) chief Michael Banks also released a video showing the Indian nationals in restraints while boarding the aircraft.

Jaishankar's statement came as protests by opposition MPs over the deportation of 104 Indian nationals saw proceedings being disrupted in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

In the Lok Sabha, opposition MPs took to sloganeering and protested in the well of the House even as Speaker Om Birla appealed to them not to resort to "planned disruptions".

"Your matter is with the government. This is the matter of the Ministry of External Affairs. This subject is related to another country. The government has taken cognisance of it," Om Birla said. However, the MPs continued with their protests, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House briefly.

Earlier, KC Venugopal moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the issue. The motion urged the Centre to outline the diplomatic steps being taken to engage with the Donald Trump administration.

Speaking to reporters, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the Trump administration's move to deport the Indian nationals in "handcuffs" was an insult to the country.

"We are protesting the way in which this was done. They have every legal right to deport people who are illegally in their country... but to send them like this abruptly in a military aircraft and in handcuffs is an insult to India, it's an insult to the dignity of Indians," Tharoor said.