Questioning the nature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relationship with US President Donald Trump, Ramesh said personal ties could not take precedence over the country’s interests.
“Friendship is important in foreign policy, but national interest, the dignity of Indians, and India’s sovereignty are paramount, and there can be no compromise on them,” he asserted.
The DHS campaign also included Transformers-themed content featuring Megatron negotiating the release of foreign nationals identified as truck drivers who had allegedly been involved in road accidents and other offences.
“If you approach this nation with hostile intent, know this. We will defend ourselves. We will defend Americanism. We will defend our home,” the department said in one post.
Another visual depicted Optimus Prime wearing a DHS arm patch and confronting a brown-bearded man with the warning: “Self-deport or find out.”
The reference to “Mr Singh” drew criticism from advocacy organisations, including the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Sikh Coalition.
“Singhs are Hindu, they are Sikhs, they are American and they drive. Racist, un-American, anti-Indian profiling/trolling by @DHSgov should shock our nation’s collective conscience,” the HAF said, calling for an investigation.
The Sikh Coalition said Sikhs continued to face profiling over their appearance 25 years after the September 11 attacks. It pointed out that millions of Sikhs in the US carry the surname Singh, meaning “lion”, and said the community would remain fearless in asserting its identity.
The controversy comes amid a DHS campaign promoting its CBP Home programme, under which eligible undocumented migrants can register their intention to leave the US voluntarily. According to the department, those who opt for self-deportation may receive travel assistance and an exit bonus of $2,600.
With PTI inputs
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