1. U.S. Deportation of Indian Nationals & Government Response
Context:
- Reports emerged of Indian deportees being handcuffed and chained by U.S. authorities while being sent back to India.
- Opposition in Indian Parliament protested against this treatment.
- External Affairs Minister Jaishankar addressed the issue, stating that deportation is a long-standing process and such restraints are a standard practice in the U.S.
Key Points from the Government’s Response:
- Standard Practice:
- The use of handcuffs and chains is a standard U.S. deportation policy.
- The Indian government is engaging with U.S. authorities to ensure deportees are not mistreated.
- Statistics on Deportations:
- Since 2009, over 15,756 illegal Indian immigrants have been deported from the U.S.
- Highest deportation recorded in 2019 – 2,042 Indians sent back.
- Obligation to Accept Deportees:
- Countries are obliged to take back their citizens if they are found to be residing illegally abroad.
- India acknowledges this but seeks humane treatment of deportees.
- Government’s Stand on Illegal Migration:
- Focus is on curbing the illegal migration industry.
- Cooperation between India and the U.S. on migration policies.
Opposition’s Reaction:
- Protests in Parliament against the treatment of Indian deportees.
- Opposition parties staged protests outside Parliament.
U.S. Response:
- The S. doubled down on its decision to deport illegal immigrants in shackles.
Justified the use of restraints as part of their deportation policy.
2. Issue of Pending Bills & Governor’s Role
Context:
- Supreme Court questioned Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi for delaying assent on 12 Bills sent by the State government for over three years.
- The case highlights constitutional provisions related to a Governor’s role in granting assent to Bills.
Key Constitutional Provisions Involved:
- Article 200 of the Indian Constitution:
- When a State Legislature passes a Bill, it is sent to the Governor for assent.
- The Governor can:
- Give assent to the Bill.
- Withhold assent (reject the Bill).
- Return it to the Legislature for reconsideration.
- Reserve it for the President’s consideration.
Supreme Court’s Observations:
- Delay in Assent: Bills were pending since January 2020 – April 2023 without any decision.
- Governor’s Action:
- The State government approached the Court in November 2023 against the delay.
- In response, the Governor sent two Bills to the President and withheld consent for the rest.
- Re-passage by Tamil Nadu Assembly:
- The Assembly re-passed 10 Bills in a Special Session and sent them again for assent.
- The Governor then forwarded all 10 Bills to the President.
- The President assented to one Bill, rejected seven, and left two pending.
Judicial Scrutiny of the Governor’s Role:
- Justice J.B. Pardiwala’s Questions to the Governor:
- “What is so gross about the Bills that they were pending for over three years?”
- Withholding assent without referring Bills for reconsideration frustrates the procedure under Article 200.
- The Governor seems to have adopted his own procedure.
Kerala’s Petition on Governor’s Role:
- Kerala filed a petition arguing that Governors in Opposition-ruled States are deliberately delaying or sitting indefinitely on crucial Bills.
The case is scheduled for hearing in March.
3. A Call for Chaos: The U.S. and the Two-State Solution
Background
- Creation of Israel in 1948 led to the displacement of 700,000 Palestinians (Nakba – catastrophe).
- More expulsions during the 1967 Six-Day War.
- Palestinians fled to Gaza, West Bank, or other countries.
- Israel has consistently rejected the Palestinian right to return.
Trump’s Plan for Gaza
- Proposes forcible relocation of 3 million Palestinians from Gaza.
- Seeks to redevelop Gaza into a tourist hub (Riviera of the Middle East).
- Mentioned troop deployment if necessary.
- White House later claimed temporary relocation, not permanent.
Three Fundamental Problems with the Plan
- Violation of Palestinian Identity and Rights
- Palestinians are not an imperial possession of Israel or the U.S.
- Their collective history, present, and future are tied to Palestinian land.
- Despite Israeli bombardment, Palestinians refuse to leave Gaza.
- Rejection by Arab Nations
- Arab nations, even U.S.-allied authoritarian rulers, reject the plan.
- Fear of another Nakba—historical evidence shows displaced Palestinians never return.
- Public opinion in Arab countries overwhelmingly supports Palestinian rights.
- Israeli Far-Right Agenda
- Plan aligns with settlement expansion to replace Palestinians with Jewish settlers.
- This will further alienate Arab nations and destabilize West Asia.
