The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Visa denial

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Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Visa denial

Sir, — The news that the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, has been denied a diplomatic visa to travel to the United States and that his tourist visa has also been revoked under a law that bars such a privilege to anyone who carries out severe violations of religious freedom comes as a shock. Mr. Modi is a democratically elected leader of a State. The move therefore is an insult to the Indian Government.

S. Raghothaman,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — The U.S.' move is an insult to the entire nation. Cutting across political and religious lines, all the parties should express their indignation against such interventionist measures. What constitutes religious freedom and its violations are within the domain of independent, sovereign and democratic nations. It is not for Washington to decide.

M.S. Rajasekaran,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — The visa denial should serve as a wake-up call to the UPA Government. The Centre, which till now has dragged its feet on the Gujarat riots, should summon the courage and take punitive action against Mr. Modi whose Government aided and abetted the genocide. He is a blot on the secular fabric of India. It is surprising that the Ministry of External Affairs is taking up the issue with Washington. It has come as a jolt to the faith of the minorities in the UPA Government and its secular credentials.

Huma Hasan,
Aligarh, U.P.

* * *

Sir, — Citing the riots in Gujarat as a reason for denying visa to Mr. Modi is unfair. The U.S. has been condemned by almost the entire international community for its invasion of Iraq. But did India deny visa to Condoleezza Rice because her administration violated democratic principles?

Srinivas Shyam Sundar,
Tirupati, A.P.

* * *

Sir, — The so-called champions of democracy should note that Mr. Modi was duly elected by the people of Gujarat. In a tit for tat response, the Indian Government should deny visa to American leaders for the human rights atrocities committed by their administration in Iraq.

M.D. Kartik,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — It is true that Mr. Modi did not act during the post-Godhra riots effectively. But accusing him of violating religious freedom is an exaggeration. The Centre should view the matter seriously.

A. Ashok Kumar,
Udupi, Karnataka

* * *

Sir, — Some form of punishment for Mr. Modi's fascist governance has been long overdue. Ideally, such punishment should have come from his own people. His re-election should not be seen as any sort of exoneration for him. Mr. Modi has never regretted the pogrom, nor has he retracted his infamous quote of Newton's Law of motion to justify the post-Godhra riots. Mr. Modi's claim about the U.S. action being an insult to the nation is untenable.

K.X.M. John,
Kochi, Kerala

* * *

Sir, — The incident is being blown out of proportions. Mr. Modi's action and inaction during the Gujarat riots are well known. After 9/11, the U.S. Government has been cautious in granting visas to controversial individuals and perhaps Mr. Modi is a victim of this attitude. Besides attracting members of the community to which he belongs, his visit will also evoke protests from many individuals and institutions of the minority community. This could become a law and order problem.

V. Sethuraman,
Chennai

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