Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent interactions with U.S. President Donald Trump, labeling them as “birthday return gifts.” He emphasized that chanting “Modi Modi” does not constitute a foreign policy.
On Tuesday, Modi received birthday greetings from Trump, who referred to him as a “friend.” In a post on social media platform X, Kharge expressed discontent, stating, “Indians are pained by the return gifts you have received after the birthday call. Birthday Return Gifts from your ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’ Government! The $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas hits Indian tech workers the hardest, as 70% of H-1B holders are Indians.”
On Friday, Trump signed a proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” which mandates that H-1B visa petitions must include a supplementary payment of $100,000. This decision represents one of the Trump administration’s significant moves to regulate the H-1B visa program.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, characterized Modi as a “weak PM,” reaffirming his position in a social media post. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the government, suggesting that the move will adversely affect India’s brightest minds. He highlighted Modi’s tendency for “strategic silence and loud optics,” calling it a liability for the nation.
The new fee will take effect on September 21, marking a drastic change aimed at increasing costs for companies utilizing the H-1B program. Trump argued that higher fees are necessary to prevent abuse of the program and ensure that it serves to supplement, not replace, American workers.
Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai warned that the new fee could discourage fresh applications from companies, potentially accelerating offshoring. Industry experts noted that the restrictions would impact not only Indian companies but also global technology giants such as Amazon and Google, which rely on H-1B visas to attract top talent.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders critiqued Modi’s response to the visa changes. Saurabh Bharadwaj, an AAP MLA and party president, sarcastically suggested that Trump’s actions would allow Indian workers to return home and witness Modi’s leadership. Manish Sisodia, AAP’s former Deputy Chief Minister, described the increased visa costs as humiliating, demanding an official response from Modi regarding the implications for Indian professionals.
In his proclamation, Trump stated that the H-1B visa program was established to bring highly skilled temporary workers to the U.S. but had been misused to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign labor. The Congress has established a cap of 65,000 H-1B visas, along with an additional 20,000 for professionals with advanced degrees from accredited U.S. institutions.
Industry leaders have indicated that the new fee could have significant consequences for employment opportunities for Indian professionals in the U.S., while current H-1B visa holders remain unaffected for now, as the changes apply exclusively to new applications.
