FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2008
Washington D.C.: The US State Department has confirmed in a letter to Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) that Modi will not be granted a US visa for the upcoming World Gujarati Conference in New Jersey being held on the weekend of August 29-31, 2008. Amidst lobbying efforts by his supporters to get his US visa reinstated, Modi was invited to attend the World Gujarati Conference by its organizers.
Letter from US State Department
Responding to the July 8th letter written by Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, Mr. Matthew Reynolds said: “The Department of State is extremely sensitive to your concerns and we are cognizant of the human rights abuses Mr. Modi has committedâ€Â. It further stated: “We have thoroughly searched Department records and located no current nonimmigrant visa applications for Mr. Modi. However, should we receive an application, we assure you it will be adjudicated in strict accordance with the Immigration and Naturalization Act, including Section 212(a)(2)(G) which states that ‘any alien who, while serving as a foreign government official, was responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom, as defined in section 3 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C 6402) is inadmissible’â€Â.
Commenting on the letter, Dr. Hyder Khan of the Coalition Against Genocide said “the current response from the State Department has virtually made Narendra Modi a persona non grata to the US.â€Â
More Congressmen write letters to State Dept
The Coalition Against Genocide campaign had earlier gathered further momentum when Congressmen Mike Honda (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Andre Carson (D-IN) joined several other lawmakers in writing their own letters to the State Department.
A total of 32 US Lawmakers have so far written letters to the State Department expressing concern over human rights abuses in Gujarat and urging the denial of US visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his impending visit to New Jersey.
Grassroots campaign generates over 12,000 letters
A concerted grassroots campaign by member organizations of the Coalition Against Genocide generated over 12,000 individual letters to US lawmakers across the United States. These letters were written by members of the Indian Diaspora and mainstream Americans, expressing alarm and concern over Modi’s reported US visit and the continuing persecution of minorities in his state.
US Congress monitoring Narendra Modi
A delegation from Coalition Against Genocide met with offices of several Representatives of the House and Senators and appraised them with Modi’s gory record of aggravated human rights violations of minority citizens in the state of Gujarat. Letters from the constituents were also delivered to the respective senators and congresspersons. The delegation also had detailed meetings with the foreign policy and human rights legislative aides to 11 Senators including Senators Barack Obama (IL), John Kerry (MA), Richard Durbin (IL), Edward Kennedy (MA), Charles Schumer (NY), Dianne Feinstein (CA), Norm Coleman (MN), Benjamin Cardin (MD), Mel Martinez (FL), Bill Nelson (FL), Frank Lautenberg (NJ).
The offices of a number of Senators and Congresspersons have since spoken with the State Department officials and have placed requests for monitoring the visa status of Modi and incidences of human rights abuses in Gujarat.
Appeal to Conveners of World Gujarati Conference
The Coalition Against Genocide appeals to the organizers of the World Gujarati Conference, for which Modi was invited, to abandon the politicians and politics of division and hate as embodied by Narendra Modi and embrace the ideals of Gujarat’s greatest hero, Mahatma Gandhi.
“By persistently inviting the most notorious human rights abuser in India and propping Narendra Modi as their icon and hero, the organizers of the World Gujarati conference have brought shame to the Indian American community and have tarnished the name of India†said Dr. Hari Sharma
The Coalition Against Genocide includes a diverse spectrum of organizations and individuals in the United States and Canada that have come together in response to the Gujarat genocide to demand accountability and justice.
CONTACT:
Dr. Hari Sharma
Phone: 604-420-2972
Dr. Hyder Khan
Phone/Fax: 443-927-9039
Email: media@coalitionagainstgenocide.org
Website: http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org
REFERENCES:
Coalition Against Genocide calls for the continuation of the visa ban on Modi
July 1st, 2008
http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/press/cag.letter.01jul2008.php
USCIRF Urges Denial of U.S. Visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
July 8th, 2008
http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/press/uscirf.letter.08jul2008.php
Letter from Representative Betty McCollum to the US Department of State
July 8th, 2008
http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/press/mccollum.letter.08jul2008.php
US Congressman Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania urges entry ban on Narendra Modi
August 6th, 2008
http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/press/cag.pr.06aug2008.php
27 US Lawmakers want Modi’s visa ban extended; Coalition Against Genocide gets support from more congresspersons
August 9th, 2008
http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/press/cag.pr.09aug2008.php
Response from the US State Department to Rep. Betty McCollum’s letter (PDF)
http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/press/usds.response.mccollum.pdf
Photo: Narendra Modi
That is the difference between Democracy in US and India, US preaches and practise democracy and secularism, whereas we don’t practise as much as US practise democracy, if we properly practise democracy one could not find Modi as CM again !
I am surprised that Mr Parvez Musharraf can visit US – who actions resulted in hundreds of Indian soldiers getting maimed or killed. But somehow Narendra Modi cannot visit US, but Mr Musharraf can deliver a speech at Harvard Univesity.
I just don’t get the logic. Shouldn’t the same individuals worked for Mia Musharraf’s cancellation of US visa?
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lol..Thatz great..People like Modi doesn’t deserve respect..(now pls dn’t side track into hindu-muslims stuff)..Hindu or Muslim,whoever does the same thing as Modi did in Gujarat,should die of humiliation..Im glad mostly bcoz America is India’s friend and all politicians are licking their shoes,and such a treatment for Modi will help him look back at himself..
@Rajan,you tell it right..I just want to add that if we had proper democracy,99% of so called leaders wouldn’t have been in the frame today.
@Suraj,Musharaff was a nation’s leader who fought or conspired against another nation..But Modi,did it to his own people..Being a CM ,he is expected to safeguard all people of his state..irrespective of caste ,colour and creed..If he can’t dot hat,let him go to his house and sing bhajan..not sit there on CM’s chair..Otherwise,let as rewrite constitution as one CM for Hindus,one for Dalits,one for Muslims and like..that sounds fair na?
I find it very funny that law houses approve bills on salary increment very easily.When will a bill on “banning people with single police case ,not participating in election”..lol..even murderers are there in our ministries..Hail Indian Democracy..
Either one should stop compliaining about corrupt politicians,or they should come and act to throw them out ,primiarily not voting for such ‘great ones’..Since not many will do that,it is better to keep my mouth shut and suffer/accept them as ‘leaders’…
Whatever,I want to be an Indian all my life..
Suraj:
The logic is simple. Narendra Modi is an elected official of India who has abetted the killings/displacement of thousands of citizens whom he was supposed to protect. Many fellow Indians believe it is their duty as Indians to ensure that such gross misdeeds are not condoned either at home or abroad.
Yes, there is definitely a case for protesting against Musharraf’s acceptance in Washington. But don’t you think it is 7 years too late especially when it was Modi’s own coalition that decided to end Mushrraf’s international pariah status by inviting him to Agra – after his “actions resulted in hundreds of Indian soldiers getting maimed or killed”?
After openly acknowledging Musharraf as a very useful ally in the “War on Terror”, it would be very difficult for the US to refuse a visa to him.
There was no such distinction conferred on Narendra Modi, therefore the two cannot really be compared.
“That is the difference between Democracy in US and India, US preaches and practise democracy and secularism, whereas we don’t practise as much as US practise democracy, if we properly practise democracy one could not find Modi as CM again !”
True.
As per law he should have been prosecuted and convicted. As per constitution a convicted person cannot contest election. But who cares?
The US perpetuated discrimination based on the color of the skin for a hundred years after the emancipation declaration. Let’s not compare their record with ours – the situations are vastly different.
That said, there is no excuse for the failure of the rule of law in our country. Modi exploited the system, but he is not the first (or the last, for that matter) to do so. He has not been convicted in a court of law, although I believe he should have been. Unless we make an example of the people who were involved in the last round of senseless violence, it will not be the last one. Modi’s time will come, but unless we make fundamental reforms to our law and order machinery and the criminal justice system, many more Modis will come.
thats shame on India that one of our prominent CM’s is denied visa…After all the guy has been re-elected which means the people of gujrat are behind him…people jealous of the success of gujrat, its governance are just campaigning against him…for many he will remain an icon. He is devoted himslef to the cause of gujrat as can been seen in its progress…when terrorists like musharraf can go and visit pakistan, one wonders what NM has done in comparison to Mushy…
By the logic of people voting in a criminal, Adolf Hitler was a leader of masses. Moreover, by the law of terrorism, elected leaders are more responsible as compared to despots because people follow and approve their actions. Was USA desving the attack on 11 Sep 02? Nobody condones the misdeeds of Musharraf but he is dragged just because these fellow seek a stick to beat the Muslims with. We Indian Muslims have nothing to do with Pakistan or Saudi Arabia except the humanitarian angle. Unfortunately now in India, even a rally in facour of a trusted ally like Saddam Husain is painted communal and riot happen. Stop thinking that India is you birth right and we IM do not have the same. Shame, Shame, Shame!!!
Kaatib,
I’m not sure I understand you mentioning “Saddam Hussein as a trusted ally.” Of whom? India? If so, what made him an ally? Please explain. Thanks.
US is a ***** when it comes to money. So – human rights & democracy is endorsed, supported or even militarily involved – if , that’s a big IF – it fills the coffers of US investors. (anyone remembers Myanmar,Chechnya,Sudan,Cambodia,Tibet,Northern Ireland )
So my guess is – tomorrow, when BJP Govt in Gujarat starts to favor European & Japanese companies over US entities – for business opportunity & partnership, you can very well be assured of a turn around by US Govt – in no time. The same people would be heard about the progress that has been made in the state, in terms of security, economic progress..yada yada yada…
Don’t be so optimistic & gung ho about US sticking to its current stand for long. US once hailed Saddam as their friend & ally against the Ayatollah. Conversely, Musharraf was a rogue dictator – but post 9/11, he was hailed as the central bulwark against Taliban…
Comment Edited
Democracy is not just electing a criminal with a majority of votes.
The real democracy is that bring the criminal to the justice, so that the culprit get punished, that what US is doing with Modi !
@M Kherr,
The US has not moved any proceedings against Modi. All they have done is denied him a visa.
That is something the people of India will have to do.
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/guj-muslims-break-free-of-communal-divide-via-work/72719-3.html
Malik says he has a business mantra. “I always quote our honourable Chief Minister who said that tourism unites and terrorism divides. I meet people from every part of the globe and religion has never come in between us.”
Guys…. there is something we need to look into is Gujarti Muslims trying to get over GODHRA. I heard them sometime back that they want to get over Godhra and contribute to the growth of Gujarat and there was a sentiment expressed that they want to work alongwith Modi.
Some may say that they are under pressure from BJP-RSS. I thought so. But cannot put my finger on it. This is something onlu Gujrati Muslims can clarif. Why this change of heart? Not taking sides please remember even Hindus got killed (numbers not relevant because life was lost one or thousand why count).
On top Modi has always been silent on this. He has been re-elected.
We need to discuss all this. Modis case is a very strange man, here is a man who either knowingly or by acting late contirbuted to loss of life. But he is still the most bankable CM for all the Gujaratis. Gujarat is prospering as before and the benefits are ripped by all.
My question is (1) Why is he not being tried in court? (2) Why is he still the favourite amongst all the Gujjus?
Someone said US is secular…. Yes they only tolerate religion as long as it suits them…
Our constitution says Sarva Dharma Sampanna…… Every religion is equal! We do not tolerate but practice every religion with equal respect and dignity…..
What india or indian can’t do to Modi that’s US did !
They don’t want a butcher to land in their country, whereas we elected to rule the state !
WHAT ABSOLUTE FUN!!!
kaise ho bhaijan?