US planning to deny visa to Modi again

Modi was invited last month to attend a Gujarati culture conference in New Jersey in August. Earlier in 2005, Modi was denied entry to the US to attend the same conference citing his role as the chief minister during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The senior BJP leader has said he would not apply for visa until he was assured that his application will not be turned down. The State Department had in 2005 revoked his visa under the INA, which prohibits foreign government officials who are “responsible for severe violations of religious freedom” from obtaining US visas.

“As official bodies of the government of India have found, Narendra Modi is culpable for the egregious and systematic human rights abuses wrought against thousands of Indias Muslims. “Modi must demonstrate to the State Department and to the American people why he as a person found to have aided and abetted gross violations of human rights, including religious freedom should now be eligible for a tourist visa,” Gaer said.

[ Original Source: ExpressIndia.Com ]

On the brighter side, I would say, at least one minister wouldn’t be able to burn more of tax payers money on a US trip. I wish the US Consulate and all the other embassies in the world would come up with such or more stringent criteria on issuing visas to Indian ministers!!!