The Hindu : National : U.S. carried away by canard: Modi

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Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

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U.S. carried away by canard: Modi

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR, MARCH 18. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, criticising the U.S. for denying him a visa, said here today that in the last three years he had visited several democratic nations such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Switzerland and nowhere was the issue of the 2002 riots raised. Mr. Modi told presspersons that he was particularly pained at the way the U.S. Government had arrived at the decision. Neither he nor the other persons concerned were asked about the riots. Apparently, it was ``carried away'' by the ``canard'' by a section of the non-governmental organisations, whose own sources of funds were dubious and believed to be earning support from ``certain groups fomenting terrorism and violating'' human rights the world over.

Questioning the ``competence'' of the U.S. administration, Mr. Modi wondered why it took three years to cancel his business and tourism visa, which had been issued in 1998 and was valid till 2008, if the 2002 riots were the cause.

Besides, the process for issuing visa had been on in the last two months since he wrote to the Centre on January 19 for clearance.

``It is a hard blow by America, considered to be a democratic country, on the self-respect of a great democratic country like India. No individual having faith in a democratic set-up and self-respect can digest this insult,'' he said.

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