Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu was slammed for his two cents on the new Green Card rule that requires the Green Card applicants to leave the US and wait in their home country for the permanent residency in the US. Vembu urged visa holders in America to come home and to choose self-respect. “Once again, my appeal to Indians in America on a visa. Please come home. Even if you feel it is hardship and sacrifice, self-respect should dictate your course. Let’s make Bharat proud,” Vembu wrote, only to face a huge backlash as social media users pointed out that it is not a matter of self-respect. Many pointed out that not everyone has Vembu’s situation that they can leave the US like he did after living in the US for 25 years.The US announced that the ‘Adjustment of Status’ through which a visa holder becomes a permanent resident in the US the norm. It would be granted only n exceptional cases and otherwise all Green Card applicants would have to return to their country and they would have to go through the consular process. The announcement sent shockwaves as this will disrupt immigration processes and experts were also unsure about how the new rule would be implemented.But Vembu’s sermonizing irked social media much. “It’s so easy to tweet, Mr. Vembu, but reality in India feels very different. The government is corrupt, the country struggles with pollution, low quality food and water, and limited access to better education and opportunities. Even your company can’t match the salary package of a developer in the US,” one wrote.“If all people return to India, how they can survive with low salary compared to US wages? Also no peace here because of high rates and inflation. So it is not advisable to return to India by leaving properties and luxury life in USA,” another wrote.“It’s also high time that you are declared persona non grata in the US and never allowed to set foot in the US for any reasons..then let’s see you tweeting. Once your business outcomes plummet..you are no better than an below average joe in India,” a third user wrote.The Zoho founder returned to India after 25 years and chose rural Tamil Nadu to settle, as he advocated for mentoring talent in rural India. It is not known whether he gave up his Green Card in the US or whether he became a US citizen over the years.
