Shashi Tharoor Criticizes Indian-American Diaspora for Silence on India-US Issues

New Delhi: congress MP Shashi Tharoor has openly criticized the Indian-American diaspora for remaining silent on critical India-US policy issues. Speaking after welcoming a five-member US Congressional delegation in the capital on Tuesday, Tharoor expressed concern that the diaspora has not done enough to lobby US politicians, despite challenges in trade, tariffs, and Visa regulations.

Addressing the media after discussions with the American lawmakers, Tharoor remarked: “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 quoted one US Congresswoman as saying: “It is surprising that not a single phone call from an Indian-American voter requesting support for a change of policy has reached her office.”

#WATCH | Delhi: Shashi Tharoor comments on diaspora silence, saying not a single call has reached lawmakers’ offices to push for policy change. (Source: ANI, September 23, 2025)

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Dr Shashi Tharoor says, “… 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. One of the congresswomen said that not one phone call has come to her office from any… https://t.co/4n8rJGCe1w pic.twitter.com/tiqLmQ5Rh7

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2025

The visiting US lawmakers—all Democrats, including four representatives from California—were led by Congressman Ami Bera, a lawmaker of Indian origin. According to Tharoor, the delegation expressed “tremendous interest in India” and reaffirmed bipartisan support for strengthening india-us ties.

While welcoming the goodwill, Tharoor urged the diaspora to be more proactive: “You must fight for it, speak for it, and try harder to get your political representatives to defend India if you care about the relationship with your motherland.”

Backdrop of Strained India-US Relations

The meeting comes at a time when India-US relations face several challenges. These include:

• A one-time $100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B visa applications, affecting skilled Indian workers.
• Higher US tariffs on Indian exports such as jewelry, textiles, and clothing.
• Sanctions impacting India’s Chabahar Port project in Iran, a critical element in regional connectivity and trade.

Tharoor acknowledged that despite these policy disagreements, the US lawmakers remain “friends of India, well disposed towards India.” He emphasized that their reassurances demonstrated a strong foundation for India-US strategic cooperation. He concluded by highlighting that many Americans, including US Congress members, have a deep commitment to strengthening ties with India.