Indian Government Allegedly Manipulates Deportee Narrative to Fuel Anti-Trump Sentiment and Discredit U.S. Immigration Policies

New York, February 19, 2025 — The Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has come under fire for using the issue of Sikh deportees as part of a broader political strategy aimed at undermining the Trump administration. According to legal experts and community advocates, the Indian government is engaged in a sophisticated disinformation campaign designed to manipulate both the Sikh community and U.S. political perceptions by misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding the deportations.

The controversy centers around the rare use of U.S. military planes to transport deportees to Amritsar, India, instead of Delhi. Despite 70% of the deportees being Indian Hindus and only 30% Sikhs, Modi’s India has allegedly focused attention on the Sikh aspect of the deportation process. This strategic misrepresentation is being used to accuse President Trump’s administration of religious persecution, particularly towards the Sikh community.

Two-Pronged Strategy: Disinformation and Manipulation

India’s apparent campaign serves a dual purpose, experts say. First, it attempts to convince Sikhs that the Trump administration is engaged in anti-Sikh discrimination, particularly by fabricating stories of mistreatment such as the alleged disposal of Sikh turbans during deportations.

Second, the campaign works to sow suspicion within the U.S. political establishment, aiming to paint Sikhs as potential threats or anti-American figures. These efforts, critics argue, are designed to drive a wedge between the U.S. government and the Sikh community while deflecting attention from India's own treatment of Sikhs.

Misleading Narratives and the Amritsar Deportations

One of the key elements of this narrative involves the arrival of U.S. military planes in Amritsar, a highly unusual event that was seized upon by Indian media and government-aligned entities. These planes carried deported individuals, many of whom faced harsh treatment upon arrival. According to reports, Sikh deportees were subjected to arbitrary arrests and fabricated charges, a scenario that critics claim was deliberately downplayed or obscured by Modi’s administration.

Instead of addressing human rights concerns regarding these deportees, the Indian government’s media campaign allegedly shifted focus to exaggerating claims of mistreatment by U.S. authorities, particularly surrounding the handling of Sikh turbans.

Political Deception and Manipulation of the Sikh Identity

Legal and political experts argue that this campaign is not truly about defending Sikh rights but about advancing India’s broader political interests. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an attorney based in New York and General Counsel to SFJ, stated, "Modi’s administration is manipulating the Sikh identity to serve its strategic goals, distorting facts to suit an agenda that pits the Sikh community against the Trump administration."

Pannun and others suggest that the Indian government’s manipulation of these deportations and its exploitation of the Sikh community are ultimately aimed at influencing both U.S. domestic policy and the global perception of the Trump administration.

Strategic Political Maneuvering

While the deportation of Sikhs and their mistreatment in India remain critical issues, critics argue that Modi’s campaign is clouding the truth with a carefully crafted narrative designed to manipulate political discourse. As the situation unfolds, many are calling for a more nuanced examination of the deportation process and the political machinations behind it.

This situation underscores the complex intersection of geopolitics, immigration policy, and community identity, raising questions about how easily narratives can be shaped for political gain at the expense of truth.