In a move that has suprised many, US authorities have banned Narendra Modi,, who headed the government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat when hindu extremists rioted and killed 2,500 muslims. After pressure from civil rights groups, Modi was refused entry by the United States which cited violation of religious freedom as the reason. However he will now address two meetings of expatriate Hindus via satellite this Sunday...
Banned Modi to address U.S. meet via satellite
BOMBAY (Reuters) - Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, refused entry by the United States citing violation of religious freedom, will address two meetings of expatriate Indians through satellite facility, his spokesman said on Sunday.
Washington last week revoked Modi's visa, sparking a series of protests with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging the United States to reconsider its decision.
The U.S. embassy said on Friday Modi's tourist/business visa had been revoked under a law banning foreign officials deemed responsible for severe violation of religious freedom.
"Arrangements have been made for Modi to address two meetings via a satellite facility," Modi's spokesman, Hitesh Pandya, said by phone from Gandhinagar, Gujarat's capital.
Human rights groups say about 2,500 people, most of them Muslims, were hacked, burned or beaten to death in Gujarat in early 2002 after 59 Hindu pilgrims and activists died on a train in a fire some blame on a Muslim crowd.
Modi, who headed the government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat then, was accused by the nation's top court, opposition parties and non-government groups of not doing enough to prevent the violence against Muslims.
Modi had planned to meet the large Gujarati expatriate community in the United States and deliver a keynote speech at an Asian-American hoteliers conference on Thursday.
The embassy said a separate application for a diplomatic visa had been rejected because state chief ministers did not qualify.
Modi, who travels often to seek investment in one of India's most industrialised states, has visited the United States before.
The U.S. decision came after Muslim and liberal groups campaigned there against the planned visit and petitioned the State Department to revoke his visa.
Critics of the decision say it has turned India's most controversial politician into a martyr and accuse the United States of hypocrisy.
The BJP plans a rally in Ahmedabad on Sunday to protest the U.S. decision.
Thousands of BJP workers, senior party leaders including national opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani were due to attend the "Swabhiman rally", party officials said.
About 500 BJP activists marched on the U.S. embassy in protest on Saturday, some shouting "Denial of a visa to Narendra Modi is an attack on Indian sovereignty," while in some parts of Gujarat angry demonstrators destroyed crates of carbonated drinks from Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
BOMBAY (Reuters) - Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, refused entry by the United States citing violation of religious freedom, will address two meetings of expatriate Indians through satellite facility, his spokesman said on Sunday.
Washington last week revoked Modi's visa, sparking a series of protests with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging the United States to reconsider its decision.
The U.S. embassy said on Friday Modi's tourist/business visa had been revoked under a law banning foreign officials deemed responsible for severe violation of religious freedom.
"Arrangements have been made for Modi to address two meetings via a satellite facility," Modi's spokesman, Hitesh Pandya, said by phone from Gandhinagar, Gujarat's capital.
Human rights groups say about 2,500 people, most of them Muslims, were hacked, burned or beaten to death in Gujarat in early 2002 after 59 Hindu pilgrims and activists died on a train in a fire some blame on a Muslim crowd.
Modi, who headed the government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat then, was accused by the nation's top court, opposition parties and non-government groups of not doing enough to prevent the violence against Muslims.
Modi had planned to meet the large Gujarati expatriate community in the United States and deliver a keynote speech at an Asian-American hoteliers conference on Thursday.
The embassy said a separate application for a diplomatic visa had been rejected because state chief ministers did not qualify.
Modi, who travels often to seek investment in one of India's most industrialised states, has visited the United States before.
The U.S. decision came after Muslim and liberal groups campaigned there against the planned visit and petitioned the State Department to revoke his visa.
Critics of the decision say it has turned India's most controversial politician into a martyr and accuse the United States of hypocrisy.
The BJP plans a rally in Ahmedabad on Sunday to protest the U.S. decision.
Thousands of BJP workers, senior party leaders including national opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani were due to attend the "Swabhiman rally", party officials said.
About 500 BJP activists marched on the U.S. embassy in protest on Saturday, some shouting "Denial of a visa to Narendra Modi is an attack on Indian sovereignty," while in some parts of Gujarat angry demonstrators destroyed crates of carbonated drinks from Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
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