The Hindu Business Line : Modi goes ballistic as US denies visa — Centre lodges strong protest over the issue

WHAT has the number of kidnappings, murders, rapes and thefts in different States of the US got to do with the denial of visa by the American Government to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr Narendra Modi?

After a press conference to lodge a strong protest over the denial of a visit to the US, copies of a document comparing the low crime rate in Gujarat vis-à-vis different States in the US were handed out.

The reasons for passing around the document were not explained, but it was obviously to underline Mr Modi's contention that the visa denial on account of violence under his governance was unfair, given the much higher crime rate in the US.

Mr Modi went ballistic against the US Government's decision to decline a diplomatic visa to him and cancel his earlier tourist/business visa that was valid for another three years.

Terming the denial of visa an insult of the Indian Constitution and the people of India, Mr Modi said that he would soon work out an adequate response to the "humiliation" of the people of Gujarat at the hands of the US. He, however, did not spell out what the response would be.

"I have recently visited other democratic countries such as the UK, Australia and Singapore. Mine is a democratically elected Government and we have not been indicted by any court of law, in India or abroad, for the violence that occurred in Gujarat in the aftermath of the Godhra train burning. What is the US trying to prove?" he said.

Mr Modi wondered how the US could impose its rules and perceptions on another country. "Tomorrow if the American army chief wants to visit India, should we look at the US track record in Iraq and deny him a visa," he asked.

Mr Modi was to leave for the US with a nine-member delegation comprising Government officials and businessmen on March 20.

The entire trip now stands cancelled. Meanwhile, the Government has lodged a strong protest with the US on the issue.

The Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office had cleared Mr Modi's trip and issued a note verbale to the US Embassy regarding the Gujarat Chief Minister's itinerary.

The Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, Mr Arjun Modhwadia, termed the US decision as unfair, but stressed that he had earlier advised Mr Modi not to travel himself.

"I had told Mr Modi that he should not travel himself in view of the perceptions about him and send a senior Cabinet colleague instead. That would have taken care of the business interests behind the trip. But trying to link it with national and Gujarati pride to derive political mileage is not proper," Mr Modhwadia said.

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