Congress slams PM Modi over US H-1B fee hike, calls it 'birthday return gift' from Trump

The Congress on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy optics, after the United States imposed a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas — a move the party said would cripple Indian tech workers and expose what it called Modi’s “hollow bravado” on the global stage.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Indians were “pained” by what he described as the “birthday return gift” Prime Minister Narendra Modi received from the US administration led by Donald Trump.

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“@narendramodi ji, Indians are pained by the return gifts you have received after the birthday call. Birthday Return Gifts from your ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’ Govt! $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, hits Indian tech workers the hardest, 70% of H-1B visa holders are Indians. 50% tariff already imposed, a loss of Rs 2.17 Lakh crore to India is already estimated in 10 sectors alone. HIRE Act targeting Indian outsourcing. Chabahar port exemption lifted, a loss to our strategic interests,” Kharge wrote in a post on X.

He further said that even a call for the EU to impose 100% tariff on Indian goods! "Mr. Trump again recently claims (for the umpteen time!) that his intervention stopped the India-Pak war. Indian National interests are Supreme. Bear Hugs, Hollow Slogans, Concerts and getting people to chant ‘Modi, Modi’ is not Foreign Policy! Foreign policy is about safeguarding our NATIONAL INTERESTS; keeping INDIA FIRST, and steering friendships with wisdom and balance. It cannot be reduced to superficial bravado that risks undermining our long-term standing,” he added.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also targeted the Prime Minister, saying the H-1B decision strikes at India’s “best and brightest minds.”

“With the recent decision on H1-B visas the American government have 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 of India and her citizens,” Gogoi posted on X.

Congress communications in-charge Pawan Khera echoed Rahul Gandhi’s earlier criticism of Modi. “8 years later, @RahulGandhi is vindicated yet again. He called it out back in 2017, and nothing has changed. India is still stuck with a weak Prime Minister,” Khera wrote.

The Trump administration has unveiled one of its most sweeping crackdowns on the H-1B visa programme, sparking sharp criticism from the Congress in India.

On Friday (local time), US President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”. The order imposes a hefty USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, a move set to take effect on September 21.