The Hindu : National : Modi's trip to U.K. on

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Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

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Modi's trip to U.K. on

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR, MARCH 22. Refused visa by the United States, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, will now confine his foreign "business tour" to visiting the United Kingdom from March 26 to 28.

Originally, Mr. Modi was scheduled to fly out from Washington to London on the evening of March 25, but now he will go to the U.K. directly from here. The British High Commission in New Delhi has confirmed Mr. Modi's existing visa to visit that country, an official spokesman said.

Mr. Modi had earlier visited the U.K. in 2003, about a year after the Gujarat riots, amid noisy demonstrations. But this time, the protests against his visit is likely to be much more vehement as the U.S. stand against him has come as a shot in the arm for the human rights organisations and other non-government bodies lobbying against him. "As of now, there is no change in his U.K. visit programme," the spokesman said.

On March 26, Mr. Modi is scheduled to attend a function in connection with "Gujarat Day" celebrations, which falls on May 1 but advanced to co-ordinate with the Chief Minister's visit, and address a meeting of non-resident Indians the next day.

Efforts are on to revive the "business delegation" from the State that was supposed to accompany him to both countries but was cancelled in the wake of the denial of visa by the U.S. Government.

Mr. Modi will be accompanied by the Tourism Secretary, R.M. Patel, the Special Secretary, A. K. Sharma, and the officer on special duty at the CMO on Information Technology, Parag Shah, the spokesman said.

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