PM Modi reacts to Trump’s USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications
PM Modi on Saturday strongly reacted to the US decision to impose USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications
He stated that India’s biggest adversary was its dependence on other countries.
In the midst of his address to a gathering in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Modi said India has no major enemy in the world today except for one. Adding;If we have any enemy, it is our dependence on other nations. This is our biggest enemy, and together we must defeat it.” He emphasised that self-reliance, or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, is the only way for India to protect its interests and assert its self-respect on the global stage.
The PM’s comments cropped up amid fresh US executive order that imposes a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications starting September 21st, citing the replacement of American workers with cheaper foreign labour and national security concerns. The order claims large-scale misuse of the program has suppressed wages and disadvantaged American STEM professionals.
Earlier, Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. He said such economic support was unacceptable and used the tariffs to pressure India to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, escalating trade tensions between the two countries.
PM Modi criticised policies of the past, particularly amidst the Congress-led governments, saying that India’s potential was suppressed after independence.
“For decades, India was caught in the license-quota raj, isolated from global markets. When globalisation came, the country relied heavily on imports.
PM went on to add that dependence on foreign nations compromises national development: He added further, “We cannot leave the future of 1.4 billion citizens to others. Greater foreign dependence leads to greater failure. There is only one remedy for all of India’s challenges – a self-reliant India.
He also said that be it semiconductor chips or large ships, India must manufacture them domestically. “The experts here know that shipbuilding is the mother of all industries, driving growth in steel, machinery, electronics, textiles, paint, IT, and more. It supports MSMEs across the country.
The PM also spotlighted that India roughly makes an annual payment of
Rs 6 lakh crore to foreign shipping firms, nearly equal to the defence budget, a figure he said could have been retained domestically to strengthen India’s maritime sector.
News Edit KV Raman
