The BJP today termed as "regrettable" the Prime Minister's "silence" on the outsourcing issue when economies like India with its software and engineering professionals have made a mark at the global stage.

Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad sought to know why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is silent on the issue when US President Barack Obama, who holds the highest regard for him, is "speaking the language of protectionism".

"Dr Manmohan Singh claims of having a good relationship with USA. BJP too supports the relationship. President Obama has gone to the extent of saying that when Dr Manmohan Singh speaks, the world listens.

"Now when President Obama is talking of protectionism, why is the Prime Minister maintaining a conspicuous silence.

The country wants to know," Prasad told reporters here.

He said the "near silence" of the Government when repeated threats are coming from USA against outsourcing is "deeply regrettable".

"It is indeed ironical that USA which has been the biggest supporter of free world trade and globalisation is talking of protectionism," he said.

BJP, he said, deeply appreciates the Indian companies and the entrepreneurs who have by their professional excellence done India proud.

The Indian IT sector, which gets 60 per cent of its export revenue from the US, has said the move by the state of Ohio to ban outsourcing by government departments to offshore locations like India is discriminatory and amounts to a trade barrier.