NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
“If you care about the relationship with your motherland, then you also have to fight for it, speak for it and make more of an effort to press your political representatives to stand up for India,” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor urged the Indian-American diaspora this week. His remarks came amid steep hikes in H-1B visa fees and 50 percent tariffs on Indian products, both of which affect the community directly. For Indian-Americans, this means using their influence in Washington to ensure their concerns are heard and India’s interests are supported.
Tharoor, who chairs Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs, pointed out that during an interaction with a U.S. Congressional delegation, one lawmaker admitted she had not received a single phone call from her Indian-American constituents on these issues.
“I do want to stress that one of the points we raised was why the Indian-American diaspora has been so silent about all of this,” he said. “One of the congresswomen said that not one phone call has come to her office from any Indian-American voter asking for her to support a change of policy, and this is something that is surprising and that I think we all need to reach out to the Indian-American population saying, if you care about the relationship with your motherland, then you also have to fight for it, speak for it and make more of an effort to press your political representatives to stand up for India.”
He also added in the same remarks: “But the ones who came here are already friends of India, well disposed towards India and they have spoken very warmly and positively of the relationship.”
Indian Americans are among the most educated and prosperous immigrant groups in the United States. With their numbers, professional success, and presence in key congressional districts, they are uniquely positioned to shape conversations on Capitol Hill.
What the diaspora can do:
- Call and write to local Senators and Representatives to voice concerns about how H-1B visa fees and tariffs impact families, students, and businesses.
- Share personal stories to humanize the impact of these policies — whether it’s students facing barriers to study, professionals stuck in immigration limbo, or small businesses burdened by tariffs.
- Attend town halls and district meetings to raise the issue in person. Lawmakers take note when constituents speak face-to-face.
- Organize petitions and delegations through community associations and professional groups to show collective strength.
- Use media platforms — local newspapers, op-eds, and social media — to amplify concerns and create broader awareness.
- Build alliances with other immigrant groups facing similar challenges to strengthen advocacy.
By acting together, the diaspora can ensure that the concerns of millions of Indians and Indian-Americans are not lost in Washington’s policy debates. Silence only weakens India’s position at a critical moment in its relationship with the United States.
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Dr Shashi Tharoor says, "We had a very good visit from a US Congressional delegation which consisted of 5 members of the US House of Congress who happened all to be from the Democratic Party and four of them were from California, but they had… https://t.co/2GlqXUcCq9 pic.twitter.com/wD0id06WzP
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2025
