Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh broadside against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump imposed a staggering USD 100,000 annual fee for H1-B visa, a move that is likely to impact thousands of Indians working in the US.
Gandhi reshared on X a 2019 post in which he had called Modi a ‘weak PM’ citing two newspaper reports—one on New Delhi’s acceptance of the US’s usage of the term ‘administered Kashmir’ and the other on H1-B visa issue not being figured in the talks between Modi and Trump.
“I repeat, India has a weak PM,” Gandhi said in his fresh post where he shared a media report claiming that Indians hold 71 per cent of H1-B visa and the Trump’s decision would hit them hard.
Trump’s decision to impose a staggering annual fee for H1-B visa came days after he talked to Modi over the phone and extended birthday wishes to his “close friend”.
The Congress has raked this up, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge mocking Trump’s move as another birthday return gift for Modi.
In a long post on X, Kharge listed several moves taken by the Trump administration recently which are perceived to be detrimental to Indian interests.
Kharge cited the 50 per cent tariff imposed on Indian goods, the HIRE Act and lifting of Chabahar port exemption to claim how Indian interests are being sabotages.
“Indian National interests are Supreme. Bear Hugs, Hollow Slogans, Concerts and getting people to chant “Modi, Modi” is not Foreign Policy!,” Kharge said.
The latest proclamation signed by Trump is alter how American companies hire skilled foreign workers. Indian nationals receive the majority of H-1B approvals in the US. The new move could have an impact on whether they can continue to stay in the US if their companies decide not to pay the USD 100,000 fee annually now required to retain the visas.
Trump’s decision is also likely to impact Indian IT services companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro, which have traditionally used H-1B visas to bring junior and mid-level engineers to the US for client projects and skills development.
Gandhi’s fresh attack on Modi, meanwhile, came days after he stepped up his ‘vote chori’ charges against the BJP-led central government and accused the Election Commission of protecting the ‘vote chors’.
