Gujarat CM Narendra Modi. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
In a wide-ranging annual report, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said that Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi should be "inadmissible to the United States" due to "severe violations of religious freedom."
"There is significant evidence linking him to the violence and the terrible events that took place in Gujarat and for this reason, a visa would not be appropriate," Katrina Lantos Swett, chair of the Commission, told reporters on a conference call.
Modi led the western state in 2002 when religious riots broke out that left 2,000 dead, most of them Muslims. One of his former ministers was jailed for life for instigating the killings but several investigations cleared Modi of personal responsibility.
With Gujarat's economy booming, Modi has tried to rebrand himself as a pro-business reformist and is considered a frontrunner to lead the nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in next year's national elections.
The US State Department has refused to let Modi visit. But it has faced growing calls to change its position, with three junior Republican members of Congress visiting Gujarat in March and urging a visa for Modi.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, whose board is appointed by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders of both parties, advises the government on policy but does not have power over visa decisions.
In its report, the commission called for a database of foreigners who would be denied admission to the United States over religious freedom violations.
The annual report strongly criticized several countries over their records on religious freedom including China, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.
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@TYT: Wishful thinking mate. We all do it :)
"Parvez: …………and they welcome the royalty of the K of SA with open arms !!!!!!!!!!!!"
Yeah, talk about double standards. I remember when a Taliban representative was in America just a couple months before 9/11. I wonder who gave that guy a visa.
Interesting article - good reminder that Pakistan isn't the only country that has extremist.
............and they welcome the royalty of the K of SA with open arms !!!!!!!!!!!!
17 pages devoted to religious persecution in Pakistan, but not a word about this in the paper, I think that speaks volumes ! SHAME ON YOU
Tier 1 Country of Particular Concern BOTTOM LINE: Religious freedom violations in Pakistan rose to unprecedented levels due to chronic sectarian violence particularly targeting Shi’i Muslims. The government continues to fail to protect Christians, Ahmadis, and Hindus. Pakistan’s repressive blasphemy laws and anti-Ahmadi laws are widely used to violate religious freedoms and foster a climate of impunity.
http://www.uscirf.gov/images/2013%20USCIRF%20Annual%20Report(1).pdf
On these purported grounds, no pakistani will be eligible for US visa
Modi is not the loser if america avoids him, it is actually the other way round! For a matter of fact, he is an administrator who is better then Obama himself, a better visonary for India than obama for USA, an absolute anti-corrupt, measurable performance modi being higher than that of obama's accomplishments! The US thinks, it has in it, everything to teach the others & nothing to learn from the rest of world - will have hard time when it realizes, all of europe, russia will capitalize on modi's business acumen and america would have further lagged behind in the already downward trending US economy.
He had applied for visa once in 2005 which was denied. Since then he has never applied. So this constant drama of requesting that his visa be deined is just a way for various groups to attract attention to themselves. Modi hasn't requested visa. If this council wa truly concerned about religious freedom, they would deny the visa of Saudi Prince. In Saudi Arabia Hindus cannot even pray within their homes i.e. any prayer book, statue of God etc. are not allowed to be taken even s part of personal baggage,, let alone constructing a temple.
Modiji,
Its clear that you never tried for US visa.
Now and when you get PM vhair, even if US invites you, please dont go.
As you always say, pl be proud of yourself.
US will not do that for Modi suits them.
As if Modi gives a damn, when he becomes PM in 2014, Americans themselves will queue up and beg for Modi to visit US.