‘India Has A Weak PM,’ Says Rahul Gandhi As Congress Targets PM Modi After Donald Trump Imposes Heavy Fees For H1B Visas
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a USD 100,000 fee for H-1B visas.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi referenced his 2017 tweet where he had questioned the Prime Minister for not addressing the H-1B visa issue with then-President Donald Trump during his first term. Rahul reiterated, “I repeat, India has a weak PM.”
Senior Congress MP Manish Tewari echoed similar sentiments, alleging that the US is deliberately taking a belligerent stance against India. He stated, “The US is systematically turning on the screws on India. What happened with regard to the H-1B visa is no coincidence at all.”
Tewari highlighted several actions he viewed as part of this pattern: the premature ceasefire announcement by the US influenced by Pakistan, the subsequent felicitation and hosting of the Pakistani Army chief at the White House, the imposition of 50% tariffs by the US, and the Saudi-Pakistani defense partnership. He added, “In a very systematic manner, for reasons which are inexplicable and understandable, the US is deliberately being belligerent towards India and it does not augur well for India-US relations.”
Congress leader Pawan Khera also weighed in, stating that the entire country is now questioning PM Modi’s leadership. He remarked, “This is not a new development. On July 5, 2017, Rahul Gandhi had alerted PM Modi that this was going to happen and urged him to act. But he was a weak PM back then and remains so today. Now, crores of youth in this country are going to face a loss… Trump is insulting us every day, but the PM remains silent.”
Khera further accused Modi of missing an opportunity, saying, “Rahul Gandhi gave him the chance to call Trump a liar on the Floor of the House. Had he done that, the country would have stood with him. Today, the entire country is questioning the PM.”
The Congress party’s strong reaction comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s new presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.” This measure imposes a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications and will come into effect from September 21.
The proclamation aims to address what the administration describes as widespread abuse of the H-1B program, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages. It argues that the program’s original purpose—to bring in highly skilled foreign talent—has been distorted, pointing out that low-wage, entry-level H-1B hires have harmed American graduates.
Additionally, the proclamation raises national security concerns, citing investigations into visa fraud and money laundering involving companies heavily reliant on the H-1B program. Employers applying for H-1B visas must now provide proof of payment when filing petitions, and enforcement will be overseen by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security. Limited exemptions are available for cases deemed in the national interest.
This increase in visa costs is likely to impact the tech cost arbitrage model, where Indian software engineers and other talent have been working onsite in the United States. However, it could potentially accelerate the growth of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India.
*Note: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-has-a-weak-pm-says-rahul-gandhi-as-congress-targets-pm-modi-after-donald-trump-imposes-heavy-fees-for-h1b-visas
