Following President Trump’s introduction of a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi directed criticism toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government. Owaisi raised concerns over the impact of the US’s new visa policies on Indian nationals, especially those from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who rely heavily on the H-1B program. He also questioned the value derived from diplomatic events like ‘Howdy Modi’ and ‘Namaste Trump’. Owaisi noted the substantial contributions of H-1B visa holders in the tech sector, focusing on their significance to the Indian economy through remittances, and highlighted the potential loss of these funds. He emphasized a decline in India’s global stature. Owaisi advocated for a more assertive stance in foreign policy, including the expansion of rupee-based trade, to withstand pressure from the US. He underscored that it is the common Indian citizen who suffers the most from these policy decisions.
