Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, took a sharp dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "weak PM" amid the Trump administration's imposition of a whopping $1,00,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions, which will largely impact India's tech talent abroad.
The Congress leader revived his attack on PM Modi as he accused the latter of failing to stand up for India's interests at the global stage.
Sharing some screenshots of news articles on the impact on 71% Indians after US decision on H-1B visas, Rahul Gandhi took to X, reposting his old 2017 post, "India has a weak PM", adding, "I repeat, India has a weak PM."
In a move that is said to "safeguard American workers" and aligns with Donald Trump's "America First" agenda, the US has substantially raised the H-1B visa fee that will now require $1,00,000 per application for recruiters to hire foreign professionals. It is a severe blow for the Indians working abroad, particularly the IT professionals.
After Rahul Gandhi, INC (Indian National Congress) President Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised PM Modi, saying, "Indians are pained by the return gifts you have received after the birthday call. Birthday return gifts from your 'Abki baar, Trump Sarkar' Govt!" He was referring to PM Modi's event with Trump during the last term of the US President.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 20, 2025
Kharge also went on to target PM Modi over the larger foreign policy issues, mentioning Trump's reiteration of peace brokerage between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.
Adding to the criticism, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi wrote, "With the recent decision on H-1B visas, the American Government has hit at the future of the best and the brightest minds from India. I still remember the boldness of former PM Manmohan Singh when an IFS Lady 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."
Samajwadi Party head Akhilesh Yadav too didn't stop himself from waging an attack on the Centre. Talking to ANI, he said, "This is not the first incident where America is behaving like this with India; our foreign policy is only weak. What is our preparation if other nations do the same thing tomorrow?..We are becoming dependent on other nations. For fertilisers and oil...we are dependent on other nations."
#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: On US President Trump signing an Executive Order to raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants to $100,000, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "... This is not the first incident where America is behaving like this with… pic.twitter.com/6e1OP5fI2z
— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2025