"Not Available": MEA On Data Of Asylum Seekers From India

New Delhi: The exact data on asylum seekers from India and its related details are not available to the Central government, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Rajya Sabha. In written response to the questions filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh gave the response on December 5, Thursday.

“Accurate data regarding the number of asylum applications and the actual number of people granted asylum or the grounds on which asylum is sought or granted is not available, as the foreign governments concerned cite inability to share such data due to privacy and data protection laws,” the Minister said.

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Continuing further, Minister said that the Government of India believes that asylum seekers, while seeking asylum abroad, disparages the system in India for their personal gains though the democratic country has given opportunities for everyone amend their grievances legally.

“The 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,” Minister said.

The government further said that Missions and Posts abroad continuously communicate with the local authorities and following the verification of their identity and nationality, it extend “necessary consular assistance and issue necessary travel document” to initiate their return to India.

The Government has established Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs) and Labour Mobility Agreements (LMAs) with many countries and cooperation to stop illegal migration and procedures for return of illegal migrants are significant constituents of these agreements, Minister added.

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Meanwhile, as per the data from the US Department of Homeland Security, the number of Indians applying for asylum in the US has sharply increased over the past three years. In the 2021 financial year, 4,330 Indians sought asylum in the US and it increased to 41,330 in the 2023 financial year, a jump by 855%. The report was released in October this year.