Letters to The Editor — February 7, 2025

Deportation, human rights

I write this letter as a former Union Minister for Law and Justice. The heart-rending ordeal of Indian citizens deported to India on a U.S. military aircraft is the ultimate denunciation of American pretensions as the global defender of human rights and democracy. The reported chaining and handcuffing of helpless captives aboard the plane, completely restricting their movement and even their access to the washroom, must put to shame all those responsible for the infraction of our citizens’ right to dignity and privacy The mental and physical torture of our citizens by the American authorities merits a firm and suitable response from the Indian government.

I would appeal to the External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, to take up the matter at the highest level in the U.S. administration. Clearly, protecting the dignity and the basic human rights of Indian citizens is the first charge on the resources of the Indian state.

Ashwani Kumar,

New Delhi

It is unfortunate that the BJP government at the Centre has not only failed to condemn the inhuman treatment meted out to the Indians deported by the American government but has also gone on to defend the act. It was audacious that the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated casually in the Rajya Sabha yesterday that it is the practice of the American government — ‘the Standard Operating Procedure provides for the use of restraints’. One also wonders why the Prime Minister has maintained a pronounced silence. Does it mean that he considers his friendship with Mr. Trump to be more important than the basic rights of Indians?

Tharcius S. Fernando,

Chennai

Trump and Gaza plan

The United States President, Donald Trump, is setting a dangerous precedent by proposing a plan to take over the Gaza strip, as reported in The Hindu (February 6). Israel, with support from the U.S., demolished Gaza and has rendered millions of Palestinians homeless. Now, Mr. Trump is proposing to make them landless also. While he is after illegal immigrants in the U.S., on what grounds is he asking West Asian countries to have Palestinians displaced by his own ally?

V. Ganapathy Subramanian,

Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu

Besides setting a dangerous precedent for international relations, Mr. Trump’s proposal will upset the rules-based international order. A megalomaniac cannot ride roughshod over the rules-based system the civilised international community has in place.

Kurian Mathew,

Kochi, Kerala