The Hindu : Front Page : U.S. denies entry to Modi; Centre protests

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

U.S. denies entry to Modi; Centre protests

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI, MARCH. 18. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, was today denied a diplomatic visa to enter the United States and his business/tourist visa was cancelled by the U.S. Embassy here. The embassy described Mr. Modi as a foreign government official responsible for, or directly carried out, severe violations of religious freedom.

In a swift response to this unprecedented development, the Government of India expressed "deep concern and regret" that the U.S. Embassy had denied a visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister for attending an event organised by the Asian-American Hotel Owners' Association.

Earlier in the day, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said: "We can confirm that Chief Minister of Gujarat State Narendra Modi applied for but was denied the diplomatic visa under Section 214 (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act because he was not coming for the purpose that qualified for diplomatic visa."

'Severe violation of religious freedom'

"His tourist/business visa was revoked under Section 212(a)(2)(G) of the Act which makes any government official who was responsible for or directly carried out at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom, ineligible for visa," the spokesman said.

U.S. official summoned

Expressing displeasure at the development, the Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, "called" the Charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Bob Blake, to South Block and lodged a "strong protest" against the denial of the visa to Mr. Modi.

Requesting an "urgent reconsideration" of the American decision, an official statement said the action was "uncalled for" and displayed a lack of courtesy and sensitivity towards a "constitutionally-elected" Chief Minister of a State of India.

The Government is directly concerned with the visa denial since a note verbale (official government-to-government request) had been sent by the External Affairs Ministry to the U.S. Embassy seeking a visa for Mr. Modi on February 28. Ministry officials said after the meeting between Mr. Saran and Mr. Blake that the U.S. official had promised to convey the sentiments to his Government.

According to U.S. Embassy sources, Mr. Modi is seen as responsible for the performance of State institutions during the killings and violence of February, 2002.

The Gujarat Government was responsible for the events that had taken place at the time, they said. The denial of the visa was not aimed at India, but at an individual who was responsible for the performance of State institutions. The decision not to grant a diplomatic visa to Mr. Modi and to revoke his existing business / tourist visa was taken after consultations between the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in India.

Apart from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent entity set up under U.S. law had expressed "serious concern" about the then-impending visit of Mr. Modi. Several America-based activist groups, too, had opposed his visit.

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