‘Speak For India’: Rijiju Endorses Ex-Diplomat’s Criticism Of Congress Over H-1B Visa Row

Last Updated:September 21, 2025, 18:02 IST

Kiren Rijiju backed Kanwal Sibal’s criticism of Congress over its response to Donald Trump’s H-1B visa policy, urging unity for India’s national interests amid foreign pressure.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju. (File photo/PTI)

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday endorsed former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal’s remarks criticising the Congress over its response to the recent H-1B visa policy announced by US President Donald Trump, saying there is enough time and space for politics, but everyone should speak for India when it comes to national interests.

While sharing the remarks of the former diplomat on his X platform, Rijiju said that he can understand Sibal’s pain, who is highly intellectual and known for his sharp and highly pertinent views. His pain forced him to give this perfect piece of advice to Congress President.

“Kanwal Sibal is highly intellectual, thoroughly sober and an erudite diplomat known for his sharp and highly pertinent views. I can understand his pain, which forced him to give this perfect piece of advice to Congress President. We have enough time and space to do politics but when it comes to national interests, we all must speak for INDIA 🇮🇳” he said in a post on X.

What’s the Row?

A day earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Narendra Modi government over the recent H-1B visa clampdown by the US administration, suggesting that Indians are hurt by what he called the “gifts” PM Modi received following a recent birthday call from Donald Trump.

The Congress chief took a swipe at the Modi-Trump bonhomie in the past and said “bear Hugs” and “hollow slogans” are not foreign policy. “Foreign policy is about safeguarding our national interests; keeping India first, and steering friendships with wisdom and balance,” he said.

“Foreign policy is about safeguarding our national interests; keeping India first, and steering friendships with wisdom and balance,” Kharge said.

Later, the former Foreign Secretary slammed the Congress President for linking the recent H-1B visa move to PM Modi’s ties with Trump.

He said that blaming PM Modi for Trump’s hostile move weakens India’s position at a time when the country should present a united front against external pressure. He emphasised that Trump has behaved similarly with other allies.

“Blaming Modi for Trump’s antagonistic steps against India rather than closing ranks against foreign bullying only weakens our resistance. Trump is being obnoxious to everyone, including his allies. See the way he has humiliated Europe, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico etc,” the seasoned diplomat said in a post on X.

Further arguing that India’s firm stance has challenged Trump’s approach, he questioned whether the opposition was standing against India’s independent foreign policy choices.

“Is the opposition against India refusing to be dictated on our foreign policy choices by the US? We have, unlike Pakistan, not done business deals involving his family and close associates to earn Trump’s goodwill, which, in any case, cannot be relied upon. Why try to exploit a serious external challenge for domestic politicking? A lot has been achieved in the last many years in our ties with the US,” he added.

About the Author

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More

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