The Congress said on Wednesday overseas jobs are in peril as the Narendra Modi-led NDA government has floundered with respect to US H1B visas.
“The BJP has failed Indian immigrants as the United States clamps down on H4, H1B and L1 visas,” Congress’ communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here.
“The Narendra Modi government policy on ‘Saving Indian Jobs’ is ‘Beating Drum, Staying Mum’,” he quipped.
Rajiv Gandhi’s vision enabled India to rise as a tech giant in the global economy with Indian IT professionals leading the software revolution, particularly in the US, he said, adding: “Bengaluru naturally emerged as the IT hub. Karnataka topped the States in software and services exports, generating $40 billion in revenue.”
The Centre is a mute spectator to the clampdown by the US on H4, H1B and L1 visas for Indians, he further said.
‘Hugplomacy’, ‘Trumpeting rhetoric’ and ‘Beating drums while staying mum’ are the hallmarks of Modi’s rule, he added.
Rajya Sabha member and Congress spokesperson Rajeev Gowda said Indian professionals who get 60 per cent of all H1B visas are the worst hit by this limit and the requirement for revision every three years.
“No wonder newly approved H1B visa jobs for the top six Indian IT companies have gone down from 40 per cent to 68 per cent. An estimated 7.5 lakh Indians may consequently get deported after losing H1B status,” he added.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee head G Parameshwara exuded confidence about the Congress returning to power in the State on the back of pro-people programmes.
Pro-people programmes
Recalling his recent tour of his constituency Koratagere in Tumakuru district, he said: “What we heard from the people was — ‘can we let down those who gave us food?’”