RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.348
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2018
INDIANS SEEKING ASYLUM IN USA
348. SHRI K.R. ARJUNAN:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that over 7,000 Indians have sought asylum in USA during 2017;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government has sought details from the concerned persons about the reasons for seeking the asylum ; and
(d) If so, the details thereof ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (d) The U.S. Government does not publish any statistics on number of asylum-seekers by nationality, nor does it share information with our Mission or Consulates about Indian nationals seeking asylum in the U.S., due to privacy laws. Such asylum-seekers
often avoid contact with our Mission or Consulates while their request is under consideration. Government of India believes that asylum-seekers, while applying for asylum to a foreign government, denigrate the system in India to obtain personal gains, despite
the fact that India, being a democratic country, provides avenues for everyone to redress their grievances lawfully.
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