Indian-American Community's 'Silence' On US Policy Change 'Surprising': S Tharoor

New Delhi:

On Tuesday, a parliamentary panel addressed recent adversarial US decisions targeting India with visiting American lawmakers, highlighting the unexpected "silence" from the Indian-American community regarding these developments.

The visiting delegation comprised five Democratic Congress members, who generally oppose US President Donald Trump's policy positions.

Following the meeting, Shashi Tharoor, who chairs the Standing Committee on External Affairs, noted that committee members from both ruling and opposition parties questioned why Indian-Americans have remained "so silent about all this".

This sentiment was echoed by certain members of the US delegation led by Ami Bera, who is of Indian descent.

Tharoor remarked, "I must emphasize that we questioned why the Indian-American community has maintained such silence on these matters. One Congresswoman mentioned not receiving a single call from any Indian-American constituent advocating for policy changes. This lack of engagement is quite surprising."

He further stated, "We need to engage with Indian-Americans, emphasizing that if they value their connection to their homeland, they must advocate for it and make greater efforts to urge their political representatives to stand up for India." Tharoor described the visiting US lawmakers as friends who maintain favorable dispositions toward India.

Several MPs mentioned that the US delegates acknowledged the Indian economy's strength and resilience while praising the Indian community's contributions amid concerns over the Trump administration's decision to dramatically increase H-1B visa fees to $100,000.

The discussion also covered US sanctions waivers for Iran's Chabahar Port, which India is developing, and the 50 percent tariff imposed on Indian goods.

Some American lawmakers criticized Trump for implementing these measures.

According to Tharoor, the delegation's most significant message was that considerable US opinion, including within Congress, remains strongly committed to the relationship with India and the strategic partnership between both nations.

"India is highly valued, and they remain determined to strengthen our relationship despite the recent setbacks we're all familiar with," he added.

Sources indicated that the parliamentary committee's interaction with the US delegation was not initially planned but was arranged later due to their visit to India.