K'taka raps Centre for going soft with US on H1B visa row

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday flayed the central government for continuously being "rhetorical" and claimed it did not have a concrete agenda to put an end to the H1B impasse.

"...the government should send somebody to solve the matter through talks," Kharge said.

In a blow to Indian IT industry and professionals, US President Donald Trump had recently signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H1B visa programme to stop its "abuse" and ensure visas are given to the "most-skilled or highest paid" petitioners.

On being asked if it was fair for the central government to question the sovereign decision of the US government, Kharge said it is natural that no other country should question such a decision. But if an issue affects a major part of the working population, the matter should be taken up to find a solution, he said.

"After all, our professionals are stealing the economy of the US. It is because of the shortage of skilled manpower, we are sending our professionals, hence it becomes the moral responsibility of the government to act. But unfortunately in a federal setup I cannot go and talk to the the central government," he said.

Kharge also felt that the central government is not able to pull its weight at the international level in almost all matters, including H1B visas.

"I see some kind of failure with the central government because every time our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) hosts delegates and government heads of countries like China, the US and Australia, these very leaders when they go back to their countries they have some bad news for us to offer," he said.