Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Congress Questions Modi Government Silence Over US ‘Mr Singh’ Ad
The US Department of Homeland Security posted an advertisement showing a man called “Mr Singh.”
The ad warned him to leave American roads or leave the country.
It was part of a campaign about unlicensed commercial drivers and undocumented migrants.
Many Indian American and Sikh groups said the image unfairly used racial and religious stereotypes.
The post was later removed after protests.
The department still defended the campaign in other posts.
India’s Congress party said the Indian government should have protested more strongly.
Jairam Ramesh said protecting Indians’ dignity and India’s interests should come before political friendship.
The dispute has raised questions about how India and the United States handle disagreements.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of failing to strongly defend Indians over a controversial US Department of Homeland Security advertisement.
The AI-generated advertisement depicted a brown-bearded, turbaned man identified as “Mr Singh” with messages including “Get off our roads” and “Self-deport or find out.”
The post was part of a campaign against unlicensed commercial drivers and was later removed after protests, although the Department of Homeland Security continued defending the campaign’s language.
The Hindu American Foundation and Sikh Coalition called the advertisement discriminatory, racially stereotypical and harmful to Sikhs and Indian Americans.
Ramesh also criticized the government’s handling of Indian deportations from the United States and additional US tariffs, questioning whether relations with Donald Trump’s administration had weakened India’s defense of its interests.
- Who
- The US Department of Homeland Security, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, the Modi government, the Hindu American Foundation and the Sikh Coalition.
- What
- A controversy over a US Department of Homeland Security advertisement featuring the phrase “Mr Singh” and messages about driving and self-deportation.
- When
- The controversy was reported on Friday; the advertisement was later removed after protests.
- Where
- The advertisement was posted on X by the US Department of Homeland Security and prompted criticism in the United States and India.
- Why
- The department said the campaign targeted unlicensed commercial drivers and promoted voluntary departure by eligible undocumented migrants, while critics said it used discriminatory racial and religious profiling.
Critics of the Advertisement
Department of Homeland Security Campaign
Use of “Mr Singh”
Critics of the Advertisement
The Hindu American Foundation and Sikh Coalition said the imagery and wording amounted to discriminatory racial and religious profiling of Indians and Sikhs.
Department of Homeland Security Campaign
The Department of Homeland Security presented the material as part of a campaign addressing unlicensed commercial drivers and immigration enforcement.
Indian Government Response
Critics of the Advertisement
Jairam Ramesh said the Modi government should have strongly defended Indians’ dignity and publicly rebutted the US agency’s language.
Department of Homeland Security Campaign
The articles do not report a public rebuttal from the Modi government; the DHS, however, continued defending its campaign in official posts.
US-India Relationship
Critics of the Advertisement
Congress argued that India’s relationship with Donald Trump’s administration may be coming at the cost of national interests, sovereignty and the dignity of Indians.
Department of Homeland Security Campaign
Ramesh acknowledged that friendship is important in foreign policy, while the reported DHS messaging emphasized defending the United States and Americanism.
- Advertisement
- An AI-generated image showed a brown-bearded man alongside the message “Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive Mr Singh.”
- Additional message
- Another post featuring Optimus Prime used the phrase “Self-deport or find out.”
- Agency response
- The Department of Homeland Security removed the original post but continued defending the campaign and its language in other official posts.
- Advocacy criticism
- The Hindu American Foundation called the post racist, un-American and anti-Indian profiling, while the Sikh Coalition called it discriminatory.
- Self-deportation program
- The DHS campaign promoted CBP Home, which allows eligible undocumented migrants to register to leave the United States voluntarily.
- Exit assistance
- According to the DHS, registered migrants can receive travel assistance and an exit bonus of USD 2,600.
- Congress criticism
- Jairam Ramesh asked why the Modi government had not issued a strong public rebuttal and cited deportations and additional US tariffs as further examples.