Wed Feb 05 11:41:34 UTC 2025: ## India Condemns Deportation of Indians from US, Recalling 2013 Khobragade Incident

**New Delhi, February 5, 2025** – The Congress party has strongly criticized the reported deportation of Indian nationals from the United States, highlighting images depicting handcuffed and humiliated individuals. The party drew parallels to the 2013 incident involving Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, emphasizing India’s sharp response then which resulted in the US expressing regret.

A US military transport plane carrying the deported Indians arrived in India, marking the first such large-scale deportation as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration under President Trump’s second term. While the US embassy in New Delhi confirmed stricter immigration enforcement, it did not directly comment on the flight.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera recalled the 2013 Khobragade affair, stating the current situation evokes similar feelings of distress. He detailed India’s response at that time, including the refusal of several high-ranking officials to meet a US Congressional delegation and the withdrawal of certain privileges granted to the US embassy. He also mentioned that the US eventually expressed regret over Khobragade’s treatment.

However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor offered a more nuanced perspective, pointing out that large-scale deportations of Indian nationals predate President Trump’s current term. He cited figures indicating over 1100 deportations in the previous fiscal year under the Biden administration, and noted the significant number of undocumented Indian immigrants in the US. Tharoor also mentioned that since October 2020, nearly 170,000 Indian migrants attempting illegal border crossings have been detained and face deportation.

The deportations come amidst preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Washington, scheduled for February 12-13. While reports indicate a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft carried out the deportation from a Texas airbase, the exact number of deportees remains unclear.

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