The Hindu : National : BJP protests against U.S. action

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

National

National

BJP protests against U.S. action

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 18. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress may be poles apart in their views on the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, but on the issue of denial of a visa to him by the United States, both parties felt it is a matter that needs to be taken up strongly with the United States Embassy here.

The former External Affairs Minister and BJP spokesperson, Yashwant Sinha, told reporters that the Embassy had conveyed to the BJP that it was denying the visa under a U.S. law on religious freedom and tolerance. ``We strongly protest against the decision of the U.S. authorities. The application of a U.S. domestic law to the visit of a high political personality was totally unwarranted and is unacceptable to us,'' Mr. Sinha said.

Mr. Sinha said he was in touch with the External Affairs Ministry and had information that the Centre would be lodging a protest. ``I compliment the Government on its stand, and I am happy that the Government is taking this up, for it is not a partisan issue. Mr. Modi is the elected Chief Minister of a State here ... While every country has a sovereign right to grant or deny a visa, the approach should be rational ... Modi is not an accused in any court of law... ''

Mr. Sinha, who had continued the Vajpayee Government's foreign policy of brining India and the United States closer, was perturbed by the U.S. decision. ``All kinds of U.S. officials come here. If we were to apply the same standards to these officials, there will be trouble ... ''

The BJP admitted that Mr. Modi's visit had had no official agenda — he had been invited by the Indian-American Hotel Owners' Association (dominated by Patels from Gujarat) and was to have addressed a meeting of non-resident Indians where he would have talked about Gujarat being a good investment destination.

The Congress spokesperson, Anand Sharma, made it plain that his party's views about Mr. Modi and his role in the Gujarat riots ``remain unchanged'', but as a Chief Minister held a diplomatic passport, his papers had been forwarded to the U.S. Embassy through the Ministry of External Affairs, and the denial of visa was not proper. He said the Ministry would issue a statement.

However, Congressmen, especially those from Gujarat, in private, were celebrating the U.S. decision.

RJD stand

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Union Minister for Rural Development, Raghuvansh Prasad, said:``Mr. Modi is an Indian so we have no choice but to tolerate his presence here, but other sovereign nations do not have to allow religious bigots to enter their country or indulge in vile communal propaganda.''

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National