‘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 the announcement by US President Donald Trump imposing a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications.
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, who was in his first term at the time. Rahul reiterated his stance, stating, “I repeat, India has a weak PM.”
The Congress leader’s sentiments were echoed by Senior Party MP Manish Tewari, who alleged that the US is deliberately adopting a belligerent stance towards India.
“The US is systematically turning the screws on India. What happened with regard to the H-1B visa is no coincidence at all,” Tewari said. He pointed to a series of recent developments to support his claim, including:
– The premature ceasefire announcement by the US at the instigation of Pakistan
– The subsequent felicitation and feting of the Pakistani Army chief at the White House
– The imposition of 50% tariffs by the US
– The Saudi-Pakistani defence partnership
“All these would not have happened without the tacit support and blessing of the US. 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,” Tewari added.
Another Congress leader, Pawan Khera, remarked that the entire country is questioning PM Modi over the issue. He said, “This is not a new development. On July 5, 2017, Rahul Gandhi had tweeted and alerted PM Modi that this was going to happen and urged action. But he was a weak PM then, and remains so today. The result is evident—crores of youth of this country stand to suffer.”
Khera further claimed, “Trump is insulting us every day, but the PM remains silent. Rahul Gandhi gave him an opportunity to speak on the Floor of the House to label Trump a liar. Had he done so, the country would have stood with him. Today, the entire country is questioning the PM.”
The Congress’ outburst follows US President Donald Trump’s new presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” which imposes a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. Effective from September 21, this measure aims to address what the administration describes as widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages.
The proclamation states that the original purpose of the H-1B visa—to bring in highly skilled foreign talent—has been distorted. It claims that low-wage, entry-level H-1B hires have harmed American graduates and highlights national security concerns, citing investigations into visa fraud and money laundering involving companies heavily reliant on the programme.
Under the new order, employers must provide proof of payment when filing H-1B petitions. 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 significant increase in visa costs is expected to impact the tech cost arbitrage model, where Indian software engineers and other talent have been working onsite in the US. Conversely, it may lead to the growth of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) within India.
*Note: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and has been 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
