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News > World

India's Modi in Washington to Meet Trump for Bilateral Talks

  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lobby for visas for technology workers from India.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lobby for visas for technology workers from India. | Photo: Reuters

Published 25 June 2017
Opinion

“Look forward to welcoming India’s PM Modi to @WhiteHouse on Monday,” Trump said Saturday on his presidential Twitter account. “Important strategic issues to discuss with a true friend!”

As part of his three-nation tour, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in the United States to meet Trump. The two right-wing leaders are expected to hold talks about defense, terrorism and energy.

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Right-Wing Indian Government Criticized for Plummeting of Jobs

“Look forward to welcoming India’s PM Modi to @WhiteHouse on Monday,” Trump said Saturday on his presidential Twitter account. “Important strategic issues to discuss with a true friend!”

While Modi is expected to lobby for U.S. visas for technology workers from India, "anti-worker" Modi's Government has been criticized for generating fewer jobs, cracking down on labor rights and solely focusing on foreign investments in its three years in office. 

According to the India Exclusion Report 2016 report published in May, that cited labor ministry data, employment creation in 2015 plummeted to 135,000 jobs compared to 930,000 in 2011.

"The motto of the Modi Government in the last three years has been clear: roll out the red carpet for foreign investors and industry and give them a free hand to hire and fire while throttling labor rights and wages," the Communist Party of India's website stated.

According to Bloomberg, Trump and Modi share a difference of opinion on the H-1B visas, used by many Indian IT companies to hire the technology workers, and the Paris climate accord that India staunchly supports. 

Indians account for nearly 70% of the H-1B visas issued annually, making the country one of the top beneficiaries in the visa category. The majority of the visas go to workers from India's $150-billion tech industry.

Trump's "Buy American, Hire American" executive order has prompted a comprehensive review of H-1B visas, thus clogging Modi's funding stream of foreign-direct investments (FDIs) through the non-resident Indians (NRIs). 

"Diaspora outreach is a key element of the Modi Government's foreign policy initiatives and this edition of the divas would be a step to enhance the stakes of diaspora in India," a senior government official told the Economic Times.

Modi is also expected to seek assurances on the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative that facilitate U.S. arms technology transfers to India, Bloomberg reported. 

According to the Indian Defense Sources, the right-wing leader is also expected to initiate discussions on buying California-based General Atomics-made 100-armed Predator drones and seek help with India’s plans for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. 

According to analysts, Modi and Trump might discuss Pakistan and regional terrorism, as the Trump Administration is vying to formulate a new South Asia policy. And in a bid to meet the budget, Trump might cut military aid to Pakistan. 

Modi is also expected to meet with Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, as well as Wilbur Ross and Steven Mnuchin, the secretaries of commerce and treasury, respectively.

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