COVID-19 pandemic: Australians stranded in India slam jail threat

An Australian woman stuck in India said she “feels like a criminal” after the government announced hefty fines and jail time if they attempted to return home.

Stranded Aussies in India say the feel like “criminals” after the government announced fines and jail time face them if they return home.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced all flights, including repatriation flights, will be banned and anyone attempting to enter Australia from India will face five years jail and a $66,000 fine.

The ban will be reassessed May 15.

“The government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level,” Mr Hunt said.

A man performs the last rites of a deceased relative in a disused granite quarry in India. Picture: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty

More than 200,000 people have died and India is recording around 300,000 new cases everyday.

Australian Kathleen Bhagat became stuck in Kolkota after flying over for the funeral of her mother-in-law.

She is eager to get home, but feels abandoned by the government.

“This is no longer a humanitarian crisis, it feels like we are now criminals trying to get back into the country illegally,” she said.

“People are desperate here and are trying any means to get home.”

Canberra family Kathleen and Shekhar Bhagat are stuck in Kolkata, India with their kids Sameer, 9, and Shreya, 6. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Bhagat the ban makes her feel like the government doesn’t care about her.

“Josh Frydenberg’s comments that this is ‘to keep Australians safe’ makes me feel like I’m not Australian anymore,” she said.

“It feels like the government can’t control what third countries do, so they are putting all the burden onto their own citizens who are caught up in a ‘humanitarian crisis’ to quote the PM.”

Kylie Moore-Gilbert spent two years in an Iran prison on unproven espionage charges.

She took to social media today to slam the government for threatening their citizens with jail time.

“I know what it means to do time for absolutely no reason whatsoever,” she said.

“I also know what it means to be rescued from a COVID-riddled overseas hellhole and be brought back to Australia (yes into quarantine).”

“This outrageous policy is immoral, unjustifiable and completely unAustralian.”

Kylie Moore-Gilbert has slammed the India ban. Picture: Supplied

Sydney woman Sharmeen Guliyara has family in friends stuck in India, and said she was outraged by the threat of jail time.

“It’s just outrageous and a bit harsh, you can’t help but think there’s one response for European countries and another for South-East Asian countries,” she said.

Professor Nathan Grills from the Australia India Institute has worked with the Indian health care system his whole career.

He said not only should the government have compassion for stranded citizens, but getting Australians home will take strain off the flooded Indian health system.

“I personally think it’s a step too far that Australia citizens returning to their own country can be jailed,” he said.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said the government was punishing citizens unnecessarily.

“There weren’t these threats of jail time when dealing with predominantly white countries,” he said.

“The government should be building suitable quarantine facilities and getting people in trouble home, not threatening them with jail.”

Originally published as COVID-19 pandemic: Australians stranded in India slam jail threat