India, Oct. 9 -- The Congress on Friday criticised the Narendra Modi government over the United States' decision to suspend eight major technology companies from a programme linked to employment-based green cards, accusing the prime minister of failing to protect Indian IT professionals.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the US action showed that "appeasement of bullies never pays". In a post on X, he claimed India had several options to respond under existing laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and its rules, but alleged that Modi would not act.

Ramesh also linked his criticism to the opposition's campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Specia...