Amid a renewed call for scrapping H-1B visa programs to target Indians as US and India are locked in a bitter battle over tariff, Indian-origin entrepreneur Karl Mehta schooled MAGA commentator Charlie Kirk for his wrong, racist and hateful take on Indians. “America does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. We’re full. Let’s finally put our own people first,” Charlie Kirk posted as he was supporting Laura Ingraham, an American television presenter. “Don’t forget that any trade deal with India will require us to give them more visas. I’d rather not pay them in visas and trade deficits. Let Modi see what terms he can get from Xi instead,” Laura Ingraham posted.The criticisms came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO Summit in Tianjin — in an apparent snub to the US after Trump imposed 50% tariff on India for continuing its purchase of Russian oil.
‘Enough already. We’re full’
Charlie Kirk’s statement drew a massive backlash, while Indian-American Karl Mehta pointed out that there is no such thing as “visas for people from India”. “There are categories of visa for type of visit or work and quotas for each country. India produces amazing engineers and doctors, that are very visible because they are very successful and have huge impact on the US GDP and tax receipts– largest Unicorn founders in US, most visible Fortune 500 CEO’s — they have produced 10’s of millions of jobs in the US for Americans,” Mehta pointed out. “So I think your tweet might misinform people and incite racist and hate crimes. I feel worried for the safety of fellow Americans just because of their brown skin despite significant contribution to the US economy & Innovation,” Mehta added. Indian workers allegedly stealing jobs meant for Americans emerged as one of the most contentious issues in US politics. The Donald Trump administration is planning a major overhaul of the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers.