INC poses 5 questions before PM, ahead of Trump's visit

Ahead of US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to the country, Congress on Sunday posed five questions before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the US-India trade deal, H-1 B visas, national security, oil prices and steel exports.

In a series of tweets, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the Central government and attacked with a pointed question on H-1 B visas that allows US employers to temporarily hire citizens of other countries.

''Trump Govt's restrictive immigration policies have hit H-1B visas. Indians get 70% of 85000 H-1B Visas. Now,Rejection Rate for India has increased from 6% in 2015 to 24% in 2019, esp. for IT professionals,'' he tweeted, along with a video.

''Will PM Modi ask for easing H-1B visas?'' he asked, referring to PM Modi-President Trump bonhomie, which was evident at the 'Howdy, Modi' event in Texas, US last year, which was attended by more than 50,000 people.

The US-Taliban deal, which will be signed at the end of this month and has been termed by Russia as an 'important event for peace,' also figured in one of the tweets by the 52-year-old Congress leader, as he raised concern about the national security.

''US prepare to sign deal with Taliban on 29 Feb. What about India's red lines! Have we forgotten IC814 hijacking & release of terrorist Masood Azhar in Kandhar, who's JeM then attacked Parliament & Pulwama? As gala bash unfolds,will Modiji raise our National Security concerns? (sic),'' he wrote in another post.

Indian Airlines flight IC-814 was hijacked on it's way back to Delhi from Kathmandu, half an hour after take-off on December 24, 1999, with 180 passengers and crew on board.

Mr Surjewala's third question was about trade deal. ''Will PM Modi 'ensure restoration' of preferential trade treatment for India that allowed duty-free entry for $5.6 billion worth of the country's exports to the United States?''

The general system of preferences (GSP) was scrapped by the US, last year.

Amid strained ties between the US and Iran over a host of issues, Mr Surjewala also asked if the Prime Minister would be able to secure cheaper oil for India.

In his last question, Mr Surjewala asked "@POTUS says America First, why is PM quiet on India First?".

He mentioned Trump government's hike on import tariffs and subsequent effect on India's export of steal.