New Delhi, Jul 7 (UNI) Expressing concern on the loss of employment opportunities for Indians in the United States and the Gulf by the decision of US government to suspend H1B visas and that of the Government of Kuwait to limit the number of Indians, the Congress on Tuesday said the Narendra Modi government should stand up to the threats being imposed on the Indian employees abroad.
In a statement here, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal said, 'The decision by the United States to suspend H-1B Visa with effect from June 24, 2020 will result in about two lakh Indians being sent back home.
'Additionally, of all the 85000 H-1B Visas, since more than 60,000 were being availed by the Indians, it would mean as many lost job opportunities for Indians.
'A bigger tragedy is staring at Indians in the Gulf with the Government of Kuwait bringing about a Legislation, limiting the number of Indians not to exceed more than 15 per cent of total expat population.
'This in effect would mean that 8.5 lakh Indians in Kuwait, who were till now sending home hard currency and sustaining the economy of many states like Kerala, would be forced to leave Kuwait and come back home, where nothing, but despair awaits them.
'In 2018, India received close to 4.8 billion US Dollars (around Rs 35,939 crore at present rate) from Kuwait as remittances.
'The failure of the Modi Government in not creating job opportunities at home, as also buckling down to even hitherto friendly states in securing India's interest, is more telling than ever before.
'It is demanded that the Modi Government wakes up and takes necessary measures to arrest the continuous downslide by addressing issues at home and standing up to the threats being imposed on the Indian employees abroad,' he added.
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