Government does not have accurate data of those seeking asylum abroad, shocking answer from Ministry of External Affairs

New Delhi: The government has issued a statement regarding those seeking asylum abroad. The Foreign Ministry on Thursday said the government does not have accurate data on the actual number of people applying for and receiving asylum abroad. The ministry explained that this is because the foreign governments concerned cite their inability to share such data due to privacy and data protection laws.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh gave this information in response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha. Senior member Kapil Sibal had questioned the government on the total number of Indians seeking asylum abroad in the last three years. He also asked whether it is true that the number of Indians seeking asylum in the United States has increased by 800 percent between 2021 and 2023 and half of them are from Gujarat.

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In response, Singh said that accurate data is not available on the number of people applying for asylum and the actual number of people granted asylum or the basis for seeking or granting asylum. Because the foreign governments concerned cite the inability to share such data due to privacy and data protection laws.

Singh said the Indian government believes asylum seekers bring a bad name to the country and society by seeking personal benefits while applying for asylum from a foreign government, whereas India is a democratic country, which provides everyone with the right to seek legal recourse for their grievances. Provides opportunity for redressal. (agency)