Centre should have spoken out against deportation by  U.S., says TNCC chief K. Selvaperunthagai

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai on Friday led protests near Tarapore Towers in Chennai against the BJP-led Union government for not protecting the rights of Indians who illegally entered the U.S., and were deported in shackles recently.

The Prime Minister should have summoned and reprimanded the U.S. Ambassador, he said, adding: “Diplomatic ties between the U.S. and India should be broken. India’s foreign policy is a total failure. Neighbouring countries that were our friends once — Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bhutan — have become our enemies. China is occupying our lands. Why didn’t India protest? This is why we are protesting here…”

Alleging that Mr. Modi had close ties with industrialist Gautam Adani, Mr. Selvaperunthagai asked if the latter’s troubles in the U.S. courts were preventing the Prime Minister from taking a tough stand in the issue.

“At least now, India should intervene. If this plight was experienced by Mr. Adani or Mr. Ambani, will the Prime Minister keep quiet?” he asked.

The TNCC chief further said: “The BJP and the Modi government must condemn the actions of the U.S. Today, it is America. But, if we keep quiet, other countries could do the same.”

‘Ex-PM took action’

Mr. Selvaperunthagai later told journalists, “When Indian bureaucrat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in the U.S. for visa violation, the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, took action. He removed the special protection to the U.S. Embassy and asked the security forces to provide the same security as was given to the other embassies…”