Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005
Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005 |
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By Sridhar Krishnaswami
WASHINGTON, MARCH 22. The Bush administration is seeking to downplay the controversy surrounding the denial of a visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, saying the issue has nothing to do with the broader aspects of India-United States relations. "The issue of this visa, frankly, I think, should be separated entirely from the broader issue of U.S.-India relations. Why? Because it's a specific case dealing with a specific visit. It has nothing to do with bilateral relations. It has nothing to do with our close partnership and good friendship with India. It is a technical matter related to a visa application," the State Department deputy spokesman, Adam Ereli, said. "... one should not make more of this decision than it is. It's a decision based on the application — based on the interpretation of law with respect to a specific request for a visa. It is not a reflection of our views of the Government of Gujarat or the people of Gujarat or a reflection of our bilateral relations," he added. Mr. Ereli also said that Washington was "deeply appreciative" of the role played by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Vajpayee government "in opening the way for positive transformation" of the bilateral relationship; and of the "great respect" the U.S. had for "the many successful Gujaratis who live and work in the United States and the thousands who are issued visas to the United States each month." The State Department once again spelt out the background for the denial and the revocation of an existing visa to Mr. Modi emphasising once again the "findings of Indian Commissions in investigating actions or lack of actions by state institutions and religious conflict" in Gujarat. The spokesman said that the Department did a review of the decision and reaffirmed the original decision. "... I think it was done probably at the working level," Mr. Ereli said.
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