The Hindu : National : A reprieve for Modi

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

National

National

A reprieve for Modi

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, MARCH 18. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, who was facing opposition from over 60 dissident MLAs may get a reprieve as a result of the United States denying him a visa.

A senior party leader here pointed out that about a year ago Mr. Modi got a fresh lease of life after the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, wanted to change the Chief Minister. The former party president, Venkaiah Naidu, countered Mr. Vajpayee's statement made from Manali and the decision to replace Mr. Modi as Chief Minister was put off.

Over the last one month, dissidence in the Gujarat unit of the BJP has again gathered momentum — two days ago the former Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel, met the party president, L.K. Advani, over lunch to discuss the issue. But the matter had not made much headway.

``Now that Mr. Modi has been denied a U.S. visa he has again become a hero in Gujarat ... this has come as a reprieve for him,'' a leader close to Mr. Modi said. Not many in the BJP seem to be unduly worried that their ``hero'' has been virtually labelled by the world's only ``super power'' as a man who was not tolerant towards other religions. The party would rally around Mr. Modi, leaders said, and they feel that Mr. Modi will use this to his advantage.

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