Congress Urges Modi to Address Concerns Over Indian Students in the US
Congress Demands Action from Prime Minister Modi
The Congress party has accused the Union government of failing to safeguard India's honor, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage with US President Donald Trump regarding the alleged mistreatment of Indian students in the United States.
This call to action follows the circulation of distressing images and videos on social media, depicting an Indian student being restrained and handcuffed at Newark Airport.
On the previous day, the Indian Consulate in New York confirmed it was liaising with local authorities about the incident.
In response to the viral videos, the US Embassy in India stated, “The United States continues to welcome legitimate travelers to our country. However, there is no right to visit the United States. We cannot and will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas, or the violation of US law.”
We have come across social media posts claiming that an Indian national is facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in touch with local authorities in this regard.
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) June 9, 2025
The Consulate remains ever committed for the welfare of Indian Nationals.@MEAIndia…
A witness named Kunal Jain, who recorded the incident, suggested that the student was subdued due to being “a little violent and feeling disoriented,” as reported by a media channel.
Jain expressed confusion over the student's disorientation, noting that authorities struggled to understand him as he spoke in Haryanvi. He offered to assist a police officer in communicating with the student, but his help was declined, leading to the involvement of additional officers.
Congress Criticizes Modi's Silence
‘Modi Silent on Atrocities Against Indians’
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress communication head, emphasized that it is crucial for the Prime Minister to protect the dignity of India and its citizens. He criticized Modi for not addressing the ongoing issues faced by Indians in the US.
Ramesh stated, “We demand that Prime Minister Modi should talk to President Trump and appeal for intervention in the atrocities happening against Indians and the fear that has gripped lakhs of Indian students in America.”
The Modi Government is failing to protect the honour of India and Indians.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 10, 2025
For the first time in history, a US head of state has announced a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in Washington DC. The US President is continuously claiming credit for maintaining pressure on India.… pic.twitter.com/h8wMFruxLu
Another Congress member, Pawan Khera, shared the video of the incident, labeling it as “too painful, too humiliating, and too distressing.” He questioned why the nation should endure such humiliation.
The Indian consulate has yet to confirm whether the student depicted in the video has been deported from the US.
This is too painful, too humiliating and too distressing to watch. As a country, why should we tolerate this humiliation? From the days where we showed the muscle to the US during the Devyani Khobragade issue to now seeing our citizens being treated like animals, do we have no… https://t.co/uuJHGEvrgt
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) June 9, 2025
Concerns Over Indian Students in the US
On June 4, the Congress party also criticized both Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for their silence regarding the adverse effects of Trump's policies on Indian students.
Ramesh cited data from the Ministry of External Affairs, revealing that over 337,630 Indians were enrolled in higher education in the US as of 2024, with approximately one-third of international students originating from India.
In the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 1.1 million international students were registered in US universities.
“This indicates that around 350,000 Indian families have invested their savings or taken loans for their children's education in the US,” Ramesh remarked. “These students, along with those from previous years, now face an uncertain future. Many students planning to study in 2025 may never see their dreams realized.”
Ramesh's comments come amid the Trump administration's actions against international students, including scrutinizing their political views and pausing new student visa interviews as of May 28, while preparing to enhance social media screening for applicants.
The specifics of the new social media vetting process remain unclear.
On May 29, the Ministry of External Affairs reported that 1,080 Indians had been deported from the US since January, coinciding with stricter immigration policies under the Trump administration. In some instances, the US government utilized military aircraft for the repatriation of undocumented migrants.
The Opposition has criticized the Indian government after videos surfaced showing Indian deportees on US military planes in shackles. However, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stated in February that the shackling was consistent with established procedures.