Chandigarh, April 29: Eleven residents of Punjab are among 15 Indians being deported from Australia, with their arrival at Delhi airport expected by the night of April 29. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the figures on Wednesday, asserting that the group consists mainly of Punjabi youth, including one girl, while the remaining deportees hail from Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Telangana.
The Chief Minister stated that the state government has already established a protocol to hand over the returnees to Punjab authorities upon their arrival in the capital. He declared that a detailed investigation would follow, as the administration seeks to understand the “reasons for being deported” and the role of any intermediaries involved in their travel. He noted that initial briefings suggest the move by Australian authorities followed instances of illegal activities or technical breaches of immigration law.
During the announcement, the Chief Minister maintained a compassionate stance, affirming that regardless of the methods used to go abroad, the government views the deportees as family members in need of support. He asserted that the state will provide necessary assistance for documentation and legal formalities once they are back on Indian soil. He declared that the welfare of these citizens is a top priority for his administration.
Chief Minister Mann also reiterated the importance of local economic growth as a deterrent to illegal migration. He maintained that if the youth of Punjab find gainful employment within the state, the necessity to move abroad under risky conditions would vanish. He stated that the government is currently focused on large-scale job creation to provide a secure and prosperous environment for the youth within their own country.
