Indian Air Force veteran Sanjeev Kapoor has strongly criticised the Indian diaspora in the United States, accusing them of being “silent” and of having “failed to back the motherland”. His remarks came in the wake of former US President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, which took effect on Wednesday.

‘They’ve failed to back the motherland’

“When PM Modi held grand programmes in the US over the last few years, the diaspora chanted India, India. Yet beyond the spectacle, they are silent,” Kapoor wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

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He argued that the Indian diaspora “falls silent” when it matters the most, reducing India’s growth story to merely a “drawing room topic”. 

Kapoor further said, “Indian diaspora consisting of top doctors, scientists, CEOs, even top taxpayers shine in Silicon Valley and US politics. But, when it comes to shaping the global narrative, they fall silent,” before adding, “With OCI/NRI comfort, India’s rise is a drawing room topic, not a public stand.”

Kapoor, who served as Director General – Inspection and Flight Safety, underscored that even as people have “influence” in Republican circles, they have “failed to back the motherland”. 

“Not been able to help reduce tariffs or certain sanctions,” he further said, before adding, “US press is filled with anti-India sentiments, but no counter arguments. The diaspora in the USA has let India down, to say the least.”

‘India is standing tall against US’

In a separate post, he said that tariffs could hit India’s GDP by as much as 1 per cent.

He also claimed that Trump dialled PM Modi four times, but he refused to take the call. “India is standing firm against US pressure,” he said. 

“Last night, Trump said for the 40th time that he stopped the India-Pak conflict in May by threatening sanctions. Look at this irony,” he went on to say. 

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In yet another post, he quoted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s Fox News interview, where Bessent said he was not worried about the rupee becoming a reserve currency since it is at an “all-time low against the US dollar”. 

“India is set to drop its growth by 1% as per the latest estimates by these. The Rupee may devalue slightly in the short term, but in the medium to long run Rupee will outperform the Dollar. It will be more heartburn for the USA,” the Air Force veteran said. 

Social media reactions

While many think that he has “unrealistic expectations” from the Indian diaspora abroad, and that they are “dollar diaspora”, some even sided with Indians living abroad, saying that they don’t have much say in US politics. 

In response to his earlier post, one social media user said, “Current negotiations reflect two governments prioritising their national interests. The Indian diaspora, thriving in the US, may hesitate to be seen as favouring their native land over their adopted home, balancing dual identities amid complex geopolitics.”

“Anyone who went to the US went to take care of themselves and themselves only! If they had cared for Bharat, they would have returned after their higher education and worked here. To expect the Indian diaspora to be supportive of India is an unrealistic expectation,” added another. 

A third said, “They dropped their passport. They dropped their faith.”

“I think the Indian Diaspora is not in a situation they can control. They are treading a thin rope between Visas, green cards, alienation from citizens, etc. But I broadly agree with you, Indians in the USA generally don’t want to risk their current status,” commented a fourth. 

Yet another social media user joined, “Hard to digest, but diaspora can’t do anything on US govt functioning! Most are scared of the IRS or any of their past! What we need is a strong lobby and communication channel (not just X bickering) if we want this relationship to succeed!”