BJP Leader Condemns Trump’s Remarks, Says Indians Contribute Far More Than They Take

Senior BJP leader and advocate Mahesh Jethmalani has strongly objected to what he described as racial bias against Indians. His remarks came in response to a social media post by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which highlighted the percentage of immigrants from various countries receiving government assistance in the United States. Notably, India was absent from the list.

Indians Are Contributors, Not Burdens

Speaking on the issue, Jethmalani rejected the notion that Indians are “welfare-dependent” or a burden on host countries. “Indians contribute wherever they live. They pay taxes, support economies, and give back far more than they consume,” he said. Referring to the chart shared by Trump on X, Jethmalani pointed out that India was not among the roughly 120 countries and regions listed for receiving government aid. “Labeling Indians as a burden is not only offensive but entirely false,” he added.

India Missing From Trump’s List

Trump’s post mentioned countries such as Bangladesh (54.8%), Pakistan (40.2%), Nepal (34.8%), China (32.9%), Israel/Palestine (25.9%), and Ukraine (42.7%), showing the percentage of immigrant families receiving U.S. government assistance. India, however, was conspicuously absent.

Global Trends Highlight Indian Contributions

Jethmalani emphasized that the trend of Indians being net contributors is visible globally. He cited Germany, where Indian expatriates reportedly earn the highest average salaries among foreign nationals—approximately €5,400 per month—surpassing both local Germans and other immigrant groups. He attributed this success to “skills, education, discipline, and hard work.”

Data from the Pew Research Center supports this claim. Indian Americans are the second-largest Asian group in the U.S., representing about 21% of the total Asian population. In 2023, the average annual household income of Indian-American families was $151,200, significantly higher than the $105,600 average for all Asian households. Individual Indians aged 16 and above earned an average of $85,300, far exceeding the overall Asian average.

“These figures underscore a global reality,” Jethmalani said. “Indians are an asset wherever they reside, and the data clearly confirms it.”