**Rijiju Backs Ex-Diplomat, Rebuts Kharge’s H1-B Criticism**
*By Snehil Singh | Sep 21, 2025, 03:24 PM*
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has come out in support of former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal’s comments regarding the Donald Trump administration’s H1-B visa policy, countering criticism from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
In a statement, Rijiju said, “There is enough time and space for politics, but we must all speak for India when it comes to national interests.” His remarks follow Kharge’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of India’s foreign policy amid Trump’s new guidelines on the H1-B visa program.
**Kharge’s Critique of Modi’s Foreign Policy**
Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Prime Minister Modi, accusing him of failing to protect India’s interests after the Trump administration introduced stricter H1-B visa rules. Kharge expressed disappointment, stating that Indians felt upset over the “gifts” Modi received from Trump on his birthday. He further added that “bear hugs” and “hollow slogans” are insufficient and do not amount to an effective foreign policy.
**Sibal Defends Modi, Criticizes Trump**
In response to Kharge’s remarks, Kanwal Sibal came to Modi’s defense while criticizing Trump’s hostile approach. Sibal emphasized that blaming Modi for the Trump administration’s actions only undermines India’s resilience against foreign pressure.
Highlighting Trump’s behavior, Sibal noted that the former U.S. president has been noticeably rude to multiple countries, including those in Europe, as well as Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico.
**Debate Over India’s Foreign Policy Sovereignty**
Sibal questioned the opposition’s stance on India’s refusal to allow the U.S. to dictate its foreign policy choices. Citing the contrast with Pakistan, he pointed out that India has not engaged in questionable business dealings with Trump’s family to curry favor.
He asked, “Why try to exploit a serious external challenge for domestic politicking?” underscoring India’s significant achievements in strengthening ties with the U.S. over recent years.
**Rijiju Endorses Sibal’s Views**
Sharing Kanwal Sibal’s post on X (formerly Twitter), Kiren Rijiju strongly endorsed the former diplomat’s perspective. He described Sibal as “highly intellectual, thoroughly sober, and an erudite diplomat known for his sharp and highly pertinent views.”
Rijiju added, “I understand the pain behind giving advice to Mallikarjun Kharge. We have enough time and space to do politics, but when it comes to national interests, we all must speak for INDIA.”
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*Follow-up on Twitter*:
Rijiju’s post in support of the former Foreign Secretary has sparked a wider conversation on the role of political unity in safeguarding India’s foreign policy interests.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/politics/rijiju-backs-ex-diplomat-rebuts-kharge-s-h1-b-criticism/story
