The Congress on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the United States suspended several major Indian and international technology companies from its Permanent Labour Certification Programme (PERM). The opposition party said India had options to respond to the move but alleged that the Modi government would not use them.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the US government of directly targeting Indian information technology professionals. In a post on social media platform X, he said the action showed that attempts to appease those who exert pressure do not necessarily yield results.
Ramesh alleged that the US decision came shortly after the Modi government took steps that, according to him, were intended to please US President Donald Trump.
Congress Raises UPI Transaction Charges Issue
Ramesh claimed that the government had introduced a measure involving the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on transactions made through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which he alleged would directly benefit American companies.
He argued that India had several options for responding to the US action, including measures under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, passed by Parliament, and the rules framed under it.
The Congress leader also referred to the alleged “Gyaneshgate” controversy while criticising the government. He claimed that the Modi administration was under pressure and would not use the available options to respond to the US decision.
Ramesh described the Prime Minister as “compromised” and alleged that his government was unable to take the necessary steps to protect Indian interests. These remarks were part of the Congress leader’s criticism of the government.
Eight Technology Companies Suspended from PERM Programme
The US Department of Labor announced on Thursday that eight technology companies had been suspended from the PERM programme. The companies named were Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
According to the department, new applications for permanent labour certification from these companies would not be accepted, while applications already pending would not be processed.
PERM is an important stage in the employment-based green card process, which allows eligible foreign workers to seek permanent residency in the United States.
The US action has drawn responses from Indian political leaders and industry representatives, with concerns focusing on its implications for Indian IT companies and skilled professionals working in the American market.