Not criminals, says Gujarat Ex-Deputy Chief Minister

Former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel expressed sympathy for the deported Gujaratis, underlining the fact that they had gone to the foreign country looking for a job or career, and they should not be portrayed as criminals.

The family members of illegal immigrants from Gujarat who were deported from the US claimed on Wednesday that they weren’t aware how their relatives reached the foreign soil. A US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Amritsar in Punjab in the afternoon. Sources said 33 of the 104 deportees are from Gujarat. The majority of them are from Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Patan, Vadodara and Kheda districts, sources said. They are expected to reach their native places on Thursday.

Kanubhai Patel, whose daughter is among the deportees, claimed she had gone to Europe for a vacation with her friends a month ago. “I have no idea what she planned after reaching Europe. The last time we talked with her was January 14. We have no idea how she reached the US,” said Patel, a resident of Chandranagar-Dabhla village in Mehsana district.

Another deportee belongs to Luna village of Vadodara district. Her uncle Pravin Patel told reporters that she left for the US a month ago. “She lives nearby in the same village. She got married a year ago and went to the US last month. We only know that she has been deported. We don’t know the reason behind her deportation,” he said.

BJP leader Nitin Patel said these deportees should not be harassed after their return to the state. “I sympathise with every person who has been deported from the US. They went there to build their career, do a job or set up their business. Gujarati immigrants in the US are known for living peacefully and they never break any law. I urge the media to show some sympathy towards them....don’t portray them as criminals,” the former Deputy CM told reporters at his residence here.

“They were living in the US for some time. They are being sent back only because they don’t have some permissions. I urge the state government to see to it that they are not harassed,” said Patel.