Congress leaders on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Trump administration announced a steep annual charge of USD 100,000 for H-1B visa applications. The move, set to take effect from September 21, has raised concerns of a major blow to Indian professionals, particularly in the technology sector, who form over 70 per cent of all H-1B holders.
Gogoi slams Modi’s ‘strategic silence’
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the decision would impact India’s “brightest minds” aspiring to work in the US and blamed Modi’s diplomatic handling. “With the recent decision on H-1B visas, the American government has hit at the future of the best and brightest minds from India. I still remember the boldness of former PM Manmohan Singh when one IFS lady diplomat was insulted in the US. Now PM Modi’s preference for strategic silence and loud optics has become a liability for the national interest,” he posted on X.
Khera revives ‘weak Prime Minister’ barb
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera referred back to Rahul Gandhi’s 2017 remarks, saying, “Eight years later, Rahul Gandhi is vindicated. India is still stuck with a weak Prime Minister.”
Priyank Kharge links fee hike to Modi–Trump ties
In Karnataka, Congress MLA Priyank Kharge took a sharper swipe, linking the fee hike to Modi’s personal ties with Trump. He wrote, “Modi–Dolaand (Donald Trump) friendship is turning out to be very expensive for India. His best friend signs an executive order imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas. A move that hits Indian tech workers the hardest, since more than 70% of all H-1Bs go to Indians.”
Kharge also highlighted earlier setbacks: “This comes after the 50% tariff, the HIRE Act, the lifting of the Chabahar port sanction exemption and even Trump’s call asking the EU to put a 100% tariff on Indian goods. Thank you, Modiji.”
What the new proclamation says
The US presidential proclamation, titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” is seen as one of the most aggressive steps in overhauling the H-1B visa programme. The fee is expected to discourage outsourcing and limit dependency on foreign tech workers. While the Trump administration argued that it would safeguard American jobs, industry experts warn the steep cost could cripple the talent pipeline, with Indian professionals likely to be the worst affected.
Political implications in India
The development has added fuel to political criticism at home, with the Congress accusing Modi of prioritising “loud optics” over effective diplomacy. Party leaders argue that India’s IT sector, which earns billions of dollars in exports and employs lakhs of professionals, will face new uncertainty.
The issue is also expected to feature prominently in upcoming political debates, as the opposition uses it to portray the government’s foreign policy as ineffective in protecting the interests of Indian workers abroad.
Conclusion
As the USD 100,000 H-1B fee comes into force, questions remain over how India will safeguard its talent pool in global markets. For now, the sharp criticism from Congress has ensured that the controversy around Modi’s handling of the issue will not fade quickly.