India seeks non-discriminatory approach to H-1B visa regime
New Delhi, Sep 6 : India on Thursday called upon the US to ensure a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to issuance of H-1B visas, largely availed of by Indian IT firms.
"I sought Secretary Pompeo's support to nurture our people-to-people links," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said while addressing the media after participating in the first ever 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue along with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
"Specifically, I conveyed our expectation for a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to the H-1B visa regime, given its high impact on innovation, competitiveness and people-to-people partnership, all of which are a vital source of strength for our relationship," Sushma Swaraj said.
In February, the US President Donald Trump came up with a new visa policy that makes the procedure for issuing H-1B visas tougher.
According to the new policy, the hiring company would have to prove that its H-1B employee at a third-party worksite has specific and non-qualifying speculative assignments in speciality occupation.
Sushma Swaraj said she mentioned to Pompeo that on the basis of the friendship between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indians believe that the US will not work against their interest.
"I have mentioned to him to maintain the trust of Indians," she said.
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Woman found hanging at Bengaluru home dies, husband held
Bengaluru (PTI): A 24-year-old married woman who had been found hanging from a ceiling fan at her home has died, and her husband has been arrested in this connection, police said on Monday.
The deceased Shruthi was a resident of Yelahanka here, and her maternal family claimed it to be a murder. Her husband, Pawan Kalyan, has been arrested on charges of dowry harassment, police added.
According to police, on Saturday, she was found hanging from a ceiling fan, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was declared brought dead, police said.
Shruthi married Kalyan, a private employee, in December 2024, and the couple has been residing in Yelahanka since then, a senior police officer said.
However, her family has alleged that Kalyan and his family had been harassing Shruthi for additional dowry, which often led to quarrels between them, he said.
The officer said the two families had recently resolved their disputes, but the issue cropped up again.
Amruth, Shruthi's younger brother, told reporters that he was informed over the phone that his sister had died by suicide.
"They told me on the phone that my sister died by suicide, and I immediately informed my father. The couple had argued earlier that day before I was told she had died. When I checked, the ceiling fan did not appear to have bent or moved. My sister weighed 75 kg," he said.
A case was registered against Kalyan at the Yelahanka New Town police station for dowry harassment, and he was arrested in connection with the incident, the officer added.
The autopsy report will ascertain the exact cause of death, police said.
