India slammed US Vice President comments describing Indian workers as “indentured servants

US Vice President JD Vance made a major statement regarding Indian professionals and H-1B visa holders, which India has strongly objected to and retaliated against. JD Vance referred to “endangered labor” as bonded labor. India responded by saying that such language is utterly insulting and revives old, historical, and painful memories of the colonial era. India stated that professionals who migrate to the US strengthen the US economy and contribute significantly to its innovation. Therefore, do not define that role with such words. This is not in the interests of both India and the US.

“This is therefore an area of tremendous mutual benefit for the two countries, and our expectation is that all stakeholders in this process can appreciate this fact. The steps announced by the US do not advance the shared ambitions of both countries,” the ministry said in a statement.

The rebuttal came after the United States barred eight IT firms — Microsoft, Tata, Wipro, Infosys, Adobe, Cognizant, HCL and Capgemini — from participating in its Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, a key step in the employer-sponsored Green Card process, claiming the practice has shut out American workers from the job market.(UPDATED ON 9TH OCTOBER 2026)