Rahul Gandhi Slams "Weak" PM Modi Over H-1B Visa Fiasco: Where Did the Hugplomacy Go?

In a fiery broadside that reverberated through the political landscape, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, branding him a "weak Prime Minister" over his handling of the burgeoning H-1B visa crisis. Gandhi's pointed remarks came as the Trump administration continued its crackdown on the popular work visa, leaving thousands of Indian professionals and their families in an agonizing state of uncertainty.

Gandhi minced no words, directly linking Modi's much-publicized "hugplomacy" with US President Donald Trump to the deeply unsettling reality faced by Indian tech workers.

"Modi Ji, the U.S. has hiked H1B visa fees & suspended premium processing. Your 'hugplomacy' with Trump isn’t working," Gandhi declared, tearing into the government's perceived inaction. This isn't merely a bureaucratic hiccup; it's a direct blow to the aspirations of countless skilled Indians who view the H-1B as their pathway to global opportunities.

The Congress leader's criticism wasn't just about optics.

He questioned the very substance of India's foreign policy under Modi, especially concerning crucial economic and human resource issues. "Weak PM with a weak foreign policy," Gandhi asserted, laying bare his party's assessment of the government's ability to safeguard national interests on the international stage.

The core of his argument: despite the warm embraces and photo opportunities, fundamental challenges like the H-1B visa issue remain unaddressed, exposing a significant gap between diplomatic spectacle and tangible results.

The contentious H-1B visa, a lifeline for many Indian IT professionals seeking to work in the United States, has been under intense scrutiny since the Trump administration took office.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had announced a temporary suspension of premium processing for all H-1B petitions, effective from April 3. This suspension, which can last up to six months, means that applicants would have to wait significantly longer for their applications to be processed, adding to anxiety and planning complexities.

Furthermore, a substantial increase in H-1B visa fees, coupled with a push for prioritizing American workers, has compounded the difficulties.

Rahul Gandhi's impassioned critique resonated with a growing chorus of concerns from Indian families and the IT industry. He highlighted the profound impact on those who had invested their lives and careers based on the premise of global mobility.

The Congress leader pointed out the stark contrast between the government's public posturing and its perceived failure to engage with the US on these critical matters during high-level bilateral meetings. Why, many wondered, had the H-1B issue not been a central point of discussion and negotiation?

This isn't an isolated incident.

The Trump administration had, even in January 2017, issued an executive order directing federal agencies to prioritize US workers, signaling a protectionist shift in immigration policy. Additionally, proposed legislative changes in the US aimed at raising the minimum salary for H-1B visa holders to an exorbitant $130,000 from the current $60,000 further threatened the viability of the program for many Indian companies and professionals.

These cumulative actions paint a clear picture of a tightening visa regime, and Gandhi’s question — where was India’s voice? — became all the more pertinent.

The Congress leader's intervention brought to the forefront a critical debate about the efficacy of India's foreign policy in protecting the interests of its citizens abroad.

Is "hugplomacy" enough when the livelihoods of thousands are at stake? Rahul Gandhi’s challenge to PM Modi served as a powerful reminder that diplomatic gestures must be backed by concrete actions and robust advocacy to truly benefit the nation.