Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “weak” leader after the United States imposed a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas for highly skilled workers. The move is expected to hit Indian professionals the hardest, with nearly 70% of H-1B visa holders being from India.
Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of failing to safeguard Indian interests, tweeting, “I repeat, India has a weak PM,” referencing similar concerns he raised in 2017. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Modi’s foreign policy approach, stating it had been reduced to “bear hugs, hollow slogans and loud optics,” which has failed to protect India’s strategic and economic interests.
Kharge highlighted the adverse impact on India’s technology sector, the HIRE Act targeting Indian outsourcing, and the loss of exemptions on the Chabahar Port project. Congress leaders warned that US tariff hikes have already cost India an estimated Rs 2.17 lakh crore across multiple sectors.
Deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi drew comparisons with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, noting Modi’s preference for “strategic silence and loud optics” has become a liability for the nation. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said Rahul Gandhi’s warnings on H-1B issues had been validated, emphasizing that India remains burdened with a “weak Prime Minister.”
The Congress attack comes amid growing concerns over the H-1B programme, widely relied upon by Indian IT professionals, with analysts warning that the new fee could drastically reduce the inflow of Indian talent into the US tech sector.