New Delhi [India], September 20 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government after the US announced the new USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications.

In a post on X, he said that the H1B visa system by the Trump administration has sent shockwaves through India, particularly affecting states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which have a significant number of beneficiaries.

He questioned PM Modi for organising events like 'Howdy Modi' and 'Namaste Trump,' accusing him of sacrificing long-term gains for domestic posturing.

'My complaint is not against Trump, he did what he wanted. My quarrel is with this government: what did you achieve with Howdy Modi and Namaste Trump? All those NRIs that you gathered in the Madison Square garden, what did that achieve?,' Owaisi said.

The AIMIM chief argued that the US doesn't seem to value India's strategic partnership, given these moves and also took a jibe at US President Donald Trump's wishing PM Modi on his 75th birthday on September 17.

'Birthday wishes are not foreign policy successes. This ending of H1B visas was meant to target Indians. That the US is putting its relationship with India at risk is proof that it does not care about our strategic value. We are a strategic partner of the US, and if they don't see us as allies, then it is a failure of this government,' he posted on X.

With 71-72% of H1B visas going to Indians, the $100,000 annual fee imposed by Trump effectively prices out many Indian professionals. This could lead to a significant drop in remittances, which were $125 billion in 2023, affecting families and economies back home.

'71-72% of all H1B visas go to Indians. Within India, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh dominate the H1B ecosystem. The average annual salary for Indian H1B holders is ~$120,000 primarily in the tech industry. For families back home, these salaries translate into a source of income, contributing significantly to India's $125 billion remittance inflow. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana account for 37% of Indian NRI deposits. A major source of intergenerational mobility has been closed. But who is to blame?' said Owaisi.

Indian IT giants like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro rely heavily on H1B visas. The new fee could cost them billions, potentially leading to reduced hiring or shifting jobs back to India.

'Trump has essentially ended the #H1Bvisa system. Indians, and especially people from Telangana and Andhra were its biggest beneficiaries. How will this affect India and what does it say about Indian foreign policy?' questioned the AIMIM chief.

H1B visas have been a key pathway for upward mobility for many Indian families. This change might close this avenue, impacting social and economic progress. He said that India's position in a hostile neighbourhood, coupled with US actions like tariffs and deals with Pakistan, raises concerns about its global isolation.

'We should see this along with other things that the US has done to India recently. The enormous tariffs, the Pakistan-US trade agreement, the Pakistan-Saudi agreement (could not have happened without US's blessings) and overall India's vulnerable position in the world. We are in a hostile neighbourhood and increasingly isolated on the global stage,' said Owaisi.

https://x.com/asadowaisi/status/1969370028517834885

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had on Wednesday signed the 'Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement' pledging that any aggression against either nation would be treated as an attack on both. The agreement was inked during a state visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Further in his post, Owaisi stated that while he did not derive any pleasure from witnessing the current situations, it was also not an opportunity for him to 'score brownie points,' emphasising that the need of the hour was for the Indian government to introspect the reasons of the occurrence of difficulties in foreign policy and national security, putting forth the grievance of the common Indians.

'I do not derive any pleasure from seeing this happen. This is not an opportunity for me to score some brownie points. But the government must introspect as to why India is facing such difficulties in foreign policy and national security. Is it because you have reduced these issues to gimmicks? After all, it's not Modi who suffers, but common Indians,' the post further read.

Owaisi urged the Centre to expand de-dollarisation to reduce dependence on the US dollar.

'India has entered into de-dollarisation agreements with over 18 countries, including Qatar and many ASEAN countries. Trade payment settlements are happening in rupees with these countries. We must expand this to trade with all major trading partners. We must not cede an inch to Trump's blackmail,' he wrote in the post.

Trump's order mandates companies to pay USD100,000 annually for H-1B visa petitions, aiming to curb perceived abuses and prioritise American workers. US President Donald Trump's residential proclamation titled 'Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers' imposed a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications.

Trump's order may impact Indians as they comprise about 70% of H-1B visa holders, making them significantly affected by this policy shift.

The steep fee may deter companies, especially smaller ones, from sponsoring foreign workers and could push Indian talent toward alternatives like Canada or Europe. (ANI)