Windrush row: UK confirms stay of 102 pre-1973 Indians | World News - Hindustan Times
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Windrush row: UK confirms stay of 102 pre-1973 Indians

Hindustan Times, London | By, London
Aug 22, 2018 12:14 AM IST

The Windrush controversy — named after the ship MV Empire Windrush which brought workers from Caribbean countries after World War II — embarrassed the Theresa May government during the summit of Commonwealth heads of government in London in April.

United Kingdom Home secretary Sajid Javid on Tuesday said his department had given documents confirming the status of 102 Indians who came to the country before 1973 as part of the “Windrush” generation that mostly comprised workers of Caribbean countries.

File photo of Indian professionals protesting against visa rules, outside the UK Parliament in London.(PTI)
File photo of Indian professionals protesting against visa rules, outside the UK Parliament in London.(PTI)

The Windrush controversy — named after the ship MV Empire Windrush which brought workers from Caribbean countries after World War II — embarrassed the Theresa May government during the summit of Commonwealth heads of government in London in April.

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Citizens of Commonwealth countries — including Indians — who came to the UK between 1948 and 1973 are considered the “Windrush generation”. They since stayed on but did not obtain necessary documents over the years to regularise their stay, resulting in some being deported.

In a letter to Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home affairs committee of Parliament, Javid detailed the steps taken since it became clear that many from the Windrush generation who had the right to stay in the country, faced detention, deportation and worse from the Home Office.

After a task force was set up to deal with members of the generation, Javid said 102 Indians are among over 2,200 people who were given documents between April and July confirming their status to remain in the UK.

Javid said he would apologise to 18 individuals who came from Caribbean countries, had the right to remain in the UK but were removed from the country by the Home Office since they did not have relevant documents confirming their status.

 Javid said: “The experiences faced by some members of the Windrush generation are completely unacceptable and I am committed to righting the wrongs of the past. I would like to personally apologise to those identified in our review and am committed to providing them with the support and compensation they deserve”.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Prasun Sonwalkar was Editor (UK & Europe), Hindustan Times. During more than three decades, he held senior positions on the Desk, besides reporting from India’s north-east and other states, including a decade covering politics from New Delhi. He has been reporting from UK and Europe since 1999.

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