Rajya Sabha MP Urges Expat Protection Law as Attacks on Indians Abroad Rise
Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal has called on the central government to introduce a dedicated Expat Protection Law to strengthen support for Indian citizens living abroad, citing a worrying rise in attacks, hate crimes and deaths involving Indians overseas.
Speaking during a Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said incidents of racial violence and harassment targeting Indians in different countries had become a serious concern requiring an institutional response.
Mittal pointed to official figures that showed the number of Indians killed abroad had increased from 29 in 2021 to 86 in 2023. He described the trend as deeply worrying and said it reflected the growing vulnerability of the Indian diaspora.
Among the recent cases he mentioned were the alleged racial assault on Hyderabad resident Syed Sohel Uddin in Utah, United States; the killing of 24-year-old Sikh woman Kirandeep Kaur in Hayes, West London; and the deaths of Indian students Shivank Awasthi in Canada and Chandra Nagamallaiah in the United States.
He also referred to an attack on an Indian man and a child in Ireland that was allegedly accompanied by racist abuse, and an incident in the United Kingdom where an elderly Sikh man's turban was allegedly disrespected.
The MP proposed a comprehensive legal framework that would ensure immediate legal aid, financial assistance, stronger consular support and dedicated mechanisms to help victims and their families pursue justice. He also called for provisions to facilitate safe repatriation of individuals or mortal remains in exceptional situations.
“Our diaspora represents India's global identity and contribution to the world. Their safety and dignity must be treated as a national responsibility,” Mittal said, urging the government to examine the proposal.
He highlighted that families of expatriates in India often face immense difficulties when such incidents occur abroad. They must navigate unfamiliar legal systems, deal with procedural hurdles and bear significant financial costs while seeking justice.
India has one of the largest diasporas in the world, with the Ministry of External Affairs estimating over 13 million non-resident Indians and about 18 million people of Indian origin abroad. The government already operates mechanisms such as the MADAD portal and consular helplines, but Mittal argued that a dedicated law would provide a more structured and robust response.
The proposal comes amid growing global attention on the safety of Indian nationals overseas. The government has not yet formally responded to the Special Mention, but the matter is expected to be considered in due course.
