Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday threw his weight behind the sharp criticism directed at the Congress party’s response to the recent H-1B visa policy announced by US President Donald Trump. Rijiju reposted the remarks of former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, who had taken issue with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments on the matter, and underscored that while political differences are inevitable in a democracy, they must take a backseat when the nation’s interests are at stake. He wrote that politics has its own time and space, but when it comes to safeguarding India’s position globally, “we all must speak for INDIA.”
The controversy began after Kharge linked the clampdown on H-1B visas to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close ties with Trump, sarcastically describing it as one of the “gifts” India had received following Modi’s recent birthday call with the former US President. He also criticised Modi’s public gestures of camaraderie with Trump, such as hugs and slogans, insisting that foreign policy cannot be reduced to optics. According to Kharge, true diplomacy lies in protecting national interests, exercising caution, and maintaining balance in international relations.
Kanwal Sibal, however, hit back strongly at Kharge’s remarks. In a detailed post on X, the veteran diplomat argued that blaming Modi for Trump’s decision not only undermines India’s position but also weakens the country’s hand in dealing with external pressure. He stressed that Trump has displayed similar hostility toward other allies, including Japan and European nations, and that India had stood firm in defending its independent foreign policy. He suggested that, unlike countries such as Pakistan, India had not engaged in questionable deals with Trump’s associates to secure goodwill, and therefore should not be accused of fostering undue proximity.
Sibal went further, questioning whether the opposition was inadvertently challenging India’s independent stance by trying to politicise a sensitive external issue. He pointed out that much progress had been made in India-US ties in recent years, and if Trump chose to reverse those gains for his domestic political advantage, it could not be seen as India’s failure alone. He warned that internal unity was crucial in moments of international stress, arguing that solidarity at home would strengthen India’s global posture more effectively than public criticism or political opportunism.
The remarks came in the backdrop of Trump’s administration announcing an unprecedented fee of USD 100,000 (over ₹88 lakh) for each new H-1B visa application—a move that could severely impact Indian IT professionals, technology firms, and skilled workers. The announcement sent shockwaves through the industry, with reports suggesting that companies like Amazon and Microsoft had already advised foreign employees to return to the United States immediately. Amid this turbulence, Rijiju’s endorsement of Sibal’s statement reinforced the government’s call for unity, with a clear message that domestic politics should not compromise India’s response to pressing global challenges.
