Trump didn’t value Gujarat a bit, sent back sons and daughters of state like they were terrorists: Mevani in Assembly

Mevani said, “We call this Gujarat state vibrant, Swarnim (golden), Gatisheel (dynamic), number one in development, prosperous. Claims of development model were made, but still, why has the youth of this so-called Vibrant-Swarnim Gujarat been forced to do kabootarbazi (illegal immigration) on the border of Mexico? It should be a big matter of concern for all of us.”

He further said, “This is happening because the dreams and aspirations of children of small and marginalised farmers of Gujarat are not being fulfilled in the state.”

He then said, “On the other hand, Trump, whom we welcomed with so much hospitality, we did so much illumination, offered food items worth Rs 2,000-5,000, red carpet was rolled out in the entire Gujarat… That Trump did not value Gujarat a bit. Our sons and daughters were sent back handcuffed as if they were terrorists. They were insulted, humiliated and treated rudely.”

Mevani further said, “I pose a question to myself – why do all these youths, who have been deported, have to hide their faces? Why do they have to cover their faces with handkerchiefs?”

He further said, “I want to tell the government that instead of ensuring that deported unemployed youths of Gujarat do not talk to media, what is required to be ensured is that all the vacant posts in government jobs are filled so that the unemployed sons-daughters of Gujarat do not have to go to Mexico border to get shot in the chest. This is a problem of Gujarat’s deep agricultural crisis and unemployment.”

So far, 74 Gujaratis have been deported back from the United States since Trump took charge as President of the country.

In 2020, during his first tenure as US President, Trump had visited India and had begun his visit from Ahmedabad at Sardar Patel Motera Stadium (now Narendra Modi Stadium). Trump was accorded a grand welcome at the stadium by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.