NEW DELHI: A US Congress delegation on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amidst President Donald Trump advocating for revamping H1B visa norms. Prime Minister Modi took the chance to enumerate the contribution of the Indian skilled workers, especially from the IT sector, in scripting the growth story of the US.
This is the first delegation of the US Congressmen to visit India after Trump formed government and his announcement to make H1B visa norms more stringent created tremors in the IT sector that sends a lot of Indians abroad to work with their partners.
Prime Minister Modi contended for greater people-to-people contact, as Trump government has been propagating ‘protectionism’ in the country. “Prime Minister referred to the role of skilled Indian talent in enriching the American economy and society. He urged developing a reflective, balanced and farsighted perspective on movement of skilled professionals,” a press release issued by the Prime Minister office said.
The delegation was bi-partisan and consisted of 26 members of the US Congress. Prime Minister Modi and President Trump are yet to have a personal meeting and had only a telephonic conversation earlier this month. Sources have indicated that the Indian government was caught off guard by Trump’s win, like the rest of the world. While Modi’s ‘bro-mance’ with former President Barack Obama has been the talk of the town, it remains to see how he will fare with the new US President.
Prime Minister Modi while welcoming the Congressional Representatives said that “it augurs a good start to bilateral exchanges following the new US Administration and Congress. The delegation will be proceeding to Hyderabad, after New Delhi.