Workers and youth condemn Australian government ban on citizens returning from India Since it was imposed earlier this month, opposition has mounted against the Australian government’s anti-democratic ban on citizens returning from India, where they face the prospect of COVID-19 infection and even death, amid that country’s coronavirus catastrophe. The government has rejected condemnations of the blockade from civil liberties organisations and legal experts as a violation of the human right of citizens to return to their country of origin. Instead, the ban will remain in force, until at least May 15, when it is set to elapse. Government ministers have outlined plans for just six repatriation flights, grossly inadequate given there are 9,000 stranded Australian citizens, more than 600 of whom are confirmed to be vulnerable. Citizens who test positive will not be permitted to board and will be left to their fate in the Indian hospital system. At least one Australian permanent resident has died of the virus in India over recent weeks.