{
  "id": 13160211,
  "title": "Government slams Vance’s remarks on Indian IT professionals as ‘deeply offensive’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/government-slams-vances-remarks-on-indian-it-professionals-as-deeply",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T16:48:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-slams-vances-remarks-on-indian-it-professionals-as-deeply-offensive/article71565159.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 9, 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs of India expressed strong disapproval of comments made by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who referred to foreign workers, including Indian IT professionals, as \"indentured servants.\" The Ministry deemed Vance's remarks \"unwarranted\" and \"deeply offensive,\" stating that they disregarded the fact that Indian professionals in the United States are highly skilled and contribute significantly to the U.S. economy and innovation ecosystem.\n\nThe suspension of the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme by the U.S. government, affecting eight IT outsourcing firms, including Indian multinationals like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, and Wipro, was cited by Vance as evidence of visa fraud committed by these companies. Vance accused the companies of replacing American workers with lower-wage foreign workers, leading to the layoff of American workers and resulting in financial gains for the corporations.\n\nThe PERM programme allows companies to sponsor non-U.S. citizens with essential skills for permanent residency status. Since 2009, it has facilitated over 230,000 H1B visa approvals and 100,000 permanent residency approvals. Indian professionals make up about 70% of all H1B visa holders.\n\nThe Ministry highlighted that talent mobility between the U.S. and India benefits both nations, providing opportunities for Indians and offering U.S. companies access to cutting-edge talent, innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness, and job creation. The suspension of the PERM programme is seen as a setback in the already strained economic relationship between the two countries, exacerbated by ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the pending decision on U.S. tariffs on Russian oil.",
  "summary": "Government reminds Trump administration that Indian professionals are “skilled contributors” to U.S. economy after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance calls foreign workers “indentured servants”",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called Indian IT professionals indentured servants.",
    "Ministry of External Affairs called Vance's remarks deeply offensive and unwarranted.",
    "Suspension of PERM program affects eight IT firms, including Indian multinationals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}