Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has once again spoken on the perceived ‘silence’ of the Indian-American diaspora concerning matters impacting India-US relations. Tharoor expressed his approval of a recent letter sent by a group of United States Congress members to President Donald Trump, which called for a reset of bilateral ties. He stated he was ‘delighted by the move’.
Praising the letter’s call for prompt actions to restore balance in the India-US relationship, Tharoor tweeted, “When I questioned the silence of the diaspora, it was to express concern that they were not pressing their political representatives to take a stand like this. If influential American politicians can speak up with or without diaspora pressure, it will surely have some influence on US policy.”
Tharoor’s comments come after he previously raised questions about the Indian-American diaspora’s lack of response on critical issues affecting Indians, such as the Trump administration’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports and the significant increase in H-1B visa fees. He shared an anecdote from a US congresswoman who noted receiving no calls from diaspora members regarding President Trump’s policies.
Tharoor’s message to the Indian-American community was clear: “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.”
These remarks drew a response from Suhag A Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), who argued that Indian-Americans should not be treated as ‘proxies for the Government of India.’ Shukla also pointed out that basing broad claims on the experience of a single congresswoman might not accurately represent the entire diaspora.
Tharoor welcomed the ensuing discussion, stating he was pleased to have prompted introspection within the Indian-American community. Earlier this month, US Congress members from districts with significant Indian-American populations sent a joint letter to President Trump, urging a reconsideration of punitive measures against India and advocating for a reset in bilateral relations. They highlighted how Trump’s tariffs negatively impacted Indian manufacturers and American consumers alike.