Owaisi criticizes Govt over H-1B Visa curbs, Questions India’s foreign policy gains
Hyderabad: Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has sharply criticized the Indian government’s foreign policy approach in light of recent U.S. decisions affecting the H-1B visa program, arguing that it reflects broader diplomatic failures.
Commenting on the practical and economic implications, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Owaisi stated that 71–72% of all H-1B visas go to Indians, with a significant share benefiting individuals from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He pointed out that the average annual salary for Indian H-1B holders is about $120,000. Most of these jobs are in the tech sector. This contributes significantly to India’s annual remittances of $125 billion. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone account for 37% of Indian NRI deposits. “A major source of intergenerational mobility has been closed,” Owaisi said.
Questions foreign policy gains
Owaisi took to the X (formerly Twitter) handle and raised a series of questions and criticized the Indian government, questioning the outcomes of high-profile events such as “Howdy Modi” and “Namaste Trump.” “My complaint is not against Trump, he did what he wanted. My quarrel is with this government,” he remarked. He characterized the U.S. visa changes as deliberately targeting Indians and suggested that the move signals a lack of regard for India’s strategic partnership.
He also flagged the visa issue within a series of recent U.S. actions, including imposed tariffs, a U.S.-Pakistan trade agreement, and a Pakistan-Saudi agreement that he claimed occurred with U.S. support. “India’s vulnerable position in the world” and increasing global isolation were noted as concerns.
Additionally, Owaisi pointed out that “India’s dedollarization agreements with 18 countries, including Qatar and ASEAN nations, are a positive step and urged the expansion of rupee-based trade settlements to insulate the economy from external pressure.”
He concluded by emphasizing that his criticism stemmed from concern rather than political. “The government must introspect as to why India is facing such difficulties in foreign policy and national security,” Owaisi stated, adding that the period from 2014 to 2024 has been “a lost decade” in terms of long-term strategic gains.
