US-India business body against H1-B visa policy change

New Delhi, Jan. 6 (IANS): Amid reports of the US administration’s plans to introduce stricter norms for issuance of H1-B visas, which are largely availed by Indian IT firms, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) has voiced its opposition to the move. “It would tremendously be a bad policy to tell highly skilled individuals who are applying for permanent residency and have been working in the US for several years that they are no longer welcome,” a USIBC spokesperson said in a statement. “This policy would harm American business, our economy, and the country,” the spokesperson said. “Further, it is inconsistent with the goals of a more merit-based immigration system.” Last month, US-based news agency McClatchey’s DC Bureau reported that the Department of Homeland Security is considering new regulations that would prevent H-1B visa extensions. The measure potentially could stop hundreds of thousands of foreign workers from keeping their H-1B visas while their green card applications are pending. According to the report, the proposal is part of US President Donald Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” initiative promised during the 2016 campaign. The act, under its current form, allows the administration to extend the H-1B visas for thousands of immigrants, predominantly Indian immigrants, beyond the allowed two three-year terms if a green card is pending. Coal scam: ED attaches 348 acre land in Madhya Pradesh New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today said it has attached over 348 acres of land in Madhya Pradesh, valued at about Rs 4.53 crore, in connection with its money laundering probe in the coal blocks allocation scam. A provisional order for attachment of the land in Narsinghpur district of the central Indian state has been issued by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The land belongs to Ms BLA Industries Private Limited, it said. The ED had registered a criminal case of money laundering against the firm, its managing director Anup Agarwal and unknown public servants, based on a CBI FIR, a few years back. The agency, in a statement, said proceeds of the crime generated in this case were from illegal mining, and new share capital creation which was “layered through various bank accounts and finally integrated in the form of purchase of immovable properties” like the 348.34 acre land in Madhya Pradesh, has now been attached. The land in question has been valued at over Rs 4.53 crore, the agency said. “It was alleged (in the CBI FIR) that the Gotitoria East and Gotitoria West coal blocks located in Mohapani coal field of Narsinghpur district were allocated for captive use in power plant. “The plant was not set up and the condition of captive use of coal was altered by public servants allowing Ms BLA Industries Private Limited to sell coal, thus giving undue favour to the company,” the ED alleged. An attachment order under the PMLA is aimed at depriving the accused from taking benefits of their alleged ill-gotten wealth, the agency said, adding such an order can be appealed by the affected party before the Adjudicating Authority of the Act in 180 days time.