New Delhi

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti on Saturday condemned the US administration for deporting Indian citizens in handcuffs and shackles, calling it "shameful" and a "blot on humanity”.

"How the illegal Indian immigrants were sent back from America in handcuffs and shackles is extremely shameful and a blot on humanity. This cruel and violent attitude has been displayed many times by the American governments towards the Red Indians and the people of African origin living in America," Bharti, former Union Minister, posted on X.

She further slammed the restrictions imposed on the deportees, stating that it reflected the "cruelty and inhumanity of the American regime."

"While sending them by plane, keeping them tied in handcuffs shows the cruelty and inhumanity of the American regime. Entering a country illegally is a crime. Every country has its provisions for punishment according to its law, but such cruelty is a great sin on this planet," Bharti said.

The BJP leader also accused opposition parties in India of hypocrisy, claiming they oppose action against illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants for political gains.

Bharti, the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to support the campaign to drive out the "intruders”.

"When we try to drive out Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators, all our opposition parties unite and oppose our government because infiltrators are their vote bank. I can now ask Rahul Gandhi and Mamta Banerjee and people from other parties like them to support us in the campaign to expel all intruders from India," Bharti said.

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The controversy arose after a US Air Force plane carrying over 100 Indian nationals, who allegedly migrated to the US illegally, arrived in Punjab's Amritsar on February 5.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing the matter on February 6, stated that all nations must take back their nationals if found residing illegally. He also assured that the Indian government is engaging with the US to ensure that deportees are treated with dignity.