India Calls JD Vance’s Comments ‘Deeply Offensive’, Defends Skilled Workers
What Happened
India has strongly criticised comments by US Vice President JD Vance on foreign workers, calling them "unwarranted" and "deeply offensive". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the US decision to suspend certain companies from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme could affect Green Card applications for eligible employees, but does not affect existing H-1B visas or the status of current visa holders and their dependents. The MEA also emphasised that Indian professionals are highly skilled contributors to the US economy and innovation ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
India said talent mobility benefits both countries through innovation, productivity and job creation, and argued that the US measures "do not advance the shared ambitions" of India and the United States. The government also objected to Vance's reported description of visa workers as "indentured labour", saying the term carries painful historical and colonial connotations.