Adopt a rational approach on Indian IT professionals coming to work in the US: Singh

In January, the US govt has effected a massive increase in fees in certain categories of the H1-B and L-1 visas

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday urged the US government to adopt a rational approach regarding its attempt to restrict Indian IT professionals from working in the US.

In January, the US government has effected a massive increase in fees in certain categories of the H1-B and L-1 visas availed mainly by the employees of Indian IT companies going for on-shore work in the US, seen as a move to restrict their number.

Rajnath Singh refererred to the issue at the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce conclave here in an indication of the Centre's seriousness over the US move.

While protesting the visa fee hike, the government of India had said in March, 2016 that it will file a complaint against the US with the WTO on the increase of visa fee.

"You are restricting the IT professionals ( from working in the US). You should adopt a rational approach on this matter. India has opened its doors to the US technology companies. By coming together, India and the US can play a dominant role in technology sector in the world," Singh said, just ahead of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled US visit next week.

While advising the US companies to also explore the investment opportunities in the hitherto untapped areas like agriculture and irrigation besides energy and homeland security, the minister said protectionism will not serve any lasting purpose when the entire world has become a global village

"We have to protect ourselves from protectionism. We should not get into conservative mind set," Singh said apparently in an indirect reference to the US government's approach towards Indian IT professionals coming to work in the US.

Singh said PM Modi's previous US visits had greatly enhanced the synergies between the two countries at the top level in deepening and expanding the bilateral relations including trade. "Our relations are more than trade relations.They are strategic relations," he said while emphasising on the importance of Indo-US ties.

Referring to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement that India and the US were natural allies, the Union Home Minister said the momentum in Indo-US bilateral relations was continued there after even by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the UPA government.

Under PM Modi's leadership Indian economy was once again put on a fast track and with the result the country has emerged as an attractive investment destination, Singh said.

Stating that in 2015-16 India was able to attract $15 billion FDI higher than that in China, the minister said that achieving a target of $500 billion in bilateral trade between the India and the US from the present $100 billion level was possible earlier than the intended time frame.

One time security clearance to foreign investments

He announced on Friday that his ministry would be introducing one time security clearance to foreign investments.The Centre had already increased the time for renewal of security clearance to 10 years from the previous 3 years level. Doing away with the need for periodic renewal through one time clearance system has been a part of the overall efforts initiated by Modi government to reduce the bureaucratic hassles for businesses in India.

Singh is going to the US next month to take part in the homeland security cooperation dialogue opened by the two countries in 2010. He said that his ministry was planning to utilise the technology extensively to secure the borders thereby securing the homeland. The home ministry was planning to use laser walling technology to secure the borders, according to him.