http://theghousejournal.blogspot.com/2008/07/if-modi-had-guts.html
Pluralistic Societies
GUJARAT CHIEF MINISTER NARENDRA MODI
A few articles - first one from the United States Commission on Religious Freedom and the second from Coalition against genocide.
Moderator's Notes:
It is neither the Gujaratis nor Gujarat that is to be blamed. Please hold the temptations to label the genocide to either, it is not them, it is the individuals who have committed the crimes. Remember both the criminals and victims are Gujaratis, so it is not about the Gujaratis, it is about the criminal element in Gujarat. No Gujarati should be offended with the ongoings, it is not about them, it is about the criminals, all criminals regardless of the religious label they wear. Religion does not permit one to murder others.
Blame the individuals, let each one of them be brought to justice, may be a fair trail outside the state of Gujarat will work, no criminal should be spared.We have to establish our civility that we are a nation of laws that gives the security to every Indian; to a man who lives in the Jhompdi (Plastic Huts) to the man or woman who lives in castles. Every Indians should feel safe, as the law would take care of the wrong doers. We need to muster up the courage to speak up and follow dharma, the right path.
Chief Minister Modi has a responsibility to the well being of every citizen of Gujarat, he lacks the courage to express that and has the ego that prevents him from doing the right thing – to apologize to the citizens of Gujarat and restore their lives and bring justice. It is in the interests of real prosperity as opposed to the limping prosperity, he should consider that, it will give him the Mukti. It will bring peace to every Gujarati and every Indian. It takes a man to do it, and I hope Modi has the guts to do it and turn things around.
Mike Ghouse
# # #
GUJARAT CHIEF MINISTER NARENDRA MODI
USCIRF Urges Denial of U.S. Visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra ModiFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 8, 2008Contact: Judith IngramCommunications Director(202) 523-3240, ext. 127WASHINGTON -
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom urges the U.S. State Department to reaffirm its past decision to deny a tourist visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who has been invited to attend a conference in New Jersey this August celebrating Gujarati culture.
Modi was previously denied entrance to the United States due to his role in riots that overtook the Indian state of Gujarat from February to May 2002 in which reportedly as many as 2,000 Muslims were killed, thousands raped, and over 200,000 displaced. Numerous reports, including reports of official bodies of the Government of India, have documented the role of Modi's state government in the planning and execution of the violence, and the failure to hold perpetrators accountable.
Following Modi's invitation to attend conferences in the U.S. in 2005, the Commission successfully urged the State Department to revoke Modi's U.S. tourist visa. Despite pressure from the Indian government, the State Department revoked his visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits foreign government officials who are "responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" from obtaining U.S. visas. This section was added to the INA by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
The Commission once again urges the State Department to announce Modi's ineligibility for a visa under the terms of the INA."We have not seen changes that would warrant a policy reversal," said Commission Chair Felice D. Gaer. "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 India's Muslims. Mr. 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.Following the riots in 2002, India's National Human Rights Commission issued a report that pointed to the role of Modi's government in the systematic murder of Muslims and the calculated destruction of Muslim homes and businesses.
In 2003, the Indian central government found corruption and anti-Muslim bias to be so pervasive in the Gujarat judiciary that riot cases were shifted for trial to the neighboring state of Maharashtra. Despite this action, the lack of justice for victims remains a serious concern, as there have been very few court convictions in the six years since the religion-based riots. In 2007, a series of articles in the Indian publication Tehelka documented police officers and government officials on audio and videotape confessing that they facilitated the violence, at times at the direct behest of Modi. "The inaction of Gujarat's government and police force in the face of severe violence against religious minorities is an inexcusable abuse of international human rights obligations," Gaer said.
http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2219&Itemid=1
###
NRIs to thwart Modi visa attempt
Friday, July 04, 2008
THE ASIAN AGE
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/india/nris-to-thwart-modi-visa-attempt.aspx
Deny US visa to Modi: NRI panel to Rice
Lalit K Jha
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 (New York)
NDTV
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080055338
Indian-Americans divided over invitation to Modi
3 Jul 2008, 1239 hrs IST
TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indians_Abroad/NRIs_divided_over_invitation_to_Modi/articleshow/3191843.cms
US Indians split over Modi invitation
Thursday, 03 July 2008
MSN India
http://nri.in.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1537593
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
Thursday, July 3, 2008 : 0945 Hrs
THE HINDU
http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/001200807030921.htm
NRI bodies oppose US visa to Modi
Thursday, July 03, 2008 at 2248 hrs IST
THE INDIAN EXPRESS
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/330491.html
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
New York, July 03, 2008
HINDUSTAN TIMES
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=898bd669-e394-4bd0-9fb7-59bac282768b
US urged to deny visa to head of Indian state
By: Vishal Arora.
Friday, 4th July 2008. 11:29am
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE, UK
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=2244
NRI bodies oppose US visa to Modi
Thu, Jul 3 02:10 AM
YAHOO! NEWS INDIA
http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20080703/814/tnl-nri-bodies-oppose-us-visa-to-modi.html
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
July 03, 2008
ZEE NEWS
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=452822&sid=NAT&sname=
No visa for Modi, activists urge Condoleeza Rice
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
HEADLINE NEWS
http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/02July2008_78390.html
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
3 Jul, 2008
ECONOMIC TIMES
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Indian_Americans_divided_over_invitation_to_Narendra_Modi_/articleshow/3191432.cms
Continue visa ban on Modi: Indian American orgs to US
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 06:01.
TWOCIRCLES.NET
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/jul/01/continue_visa_ban_modi_indian_american_orgs_us.html
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
Dharam Shourie in New York
July 03, 2008
REDIFF.COM
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/03modi.htm
'No visa for Narendra Modi'
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 19:40 IST
Daily News & Analysis (DNA-India)
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1175163
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
New York, Jul 3, 2008
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/$All/880C6E3042B96B7A6525747B0016F6A9?OpenDocument
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
Wed, Jul 2 06:31 PM
YAHOO! NEWS
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20080702/818/tnl-no-visa-for-modi-activists-urge-us.html
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
Jul 04, 2008
MANGALOREAN
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newsid=83384&newstype=local
US association against visa to Modi
2008-07-03 16:46:05
GUJARAT GLOBAL News Network
http://www.gujaratglobal.com/nextSub.php?id=4189&cattype=NEWS
Deny US visa to Modi: NRI panel to Rice
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
KERALA NEXT
http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=134269576
'No visa for Modi'
Updated: 07-03-2008
ANDHRA CAFE
http://andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=34996
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
Submitted on Wed, 07/02/2008
INDIANMUSLIMS.INFO
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/jul/02/no_visa_modi_activists_urge_us.html
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
Ahmedabad July 02, 2008 7:05:08 PM IST
WEBINDIA
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/World/20080702/989825.html
NRIs to thwart Modi visa attempt
03 July, 2008
HOWRAH
http://howrah.org/india_news/17881.html
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
July 2nd, 2008
THAINDIAN
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/no-visa-for-modi-activists-urge-us_10067025.html
DETAILED COVERAGE
======================================
NRIs to thwart Modi visa attempt
BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Friday, July 04, 2008
AHMEDABAD
ASIAN AGE
http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/india/nris-to-thwart-modi-visa-attempt.aspx
July 3: Over 25 NRI organisations, under the umbrella of the coalition
against genocide, have appealed to US secretary of state Condoleezza
Rice to thwart Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's attempt to
obtain a US visa.
A Chalo Gujarat Conference is going to be held in August in New Jersey
and is expected to be attended by over 50,000 Gujaratis. The
conference organisers, who are Mr Modi's supporters, want the Gujarat
chief minister to be present. Since last two years, Mr Modi has been
addressing the Diaspora through video conferencing. Mr Modi was denied
a visa in 2005, following representations by various national and
international human rights organisations who pointed out his role in
Gujarat riots and urged the US government to not allow him to enter
the country.
In a fresh appeal on Wednesday, 25 organisations under the aegis of
"Coalition Against Genocide", they drew the attention of Ms Rice that
Mr Modi was once again planning to apply for visa.
The Coalition Against Genocide includes a diverse spectrum of
organisations associated with Indian-Americans that have come together
in response to the Gujarat genocide to demand justice and
accountability. "We urge the state department not to allow Mr Modi to
enter the country (US) under any conditions, as the circumstances
under which he was denied a visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and
the minority communities in his state continue to face systematic
human rights violations," they said, adding US should not unwittingly
become the platform for these unrepentant yet ascendant forces in
India to exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among
Indian Diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and
standing.
"It would be dangerous at this juncture of Indian political process to
give Mr Modi that long denied and much coveted window," they added.
The coalition pointed out that Mr Modi was responsible for the deaths
of over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more.
======================================
Deny US visa to Modi: NRI panel to Rice
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080055338
Lalit K Jha
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 (New York)
Claiming that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is planning to
apply for the US visa to attend the World Gujarati Conference in New
Jersey in August, as many as 25 Indian American organisations urged
the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that he should not be
allowed to enter the country under any circumstances.
Sunil Nayak, head of Association of Indian American in North America,
which is organising the mega event, immediately condemned such an
effort. ''This is an attempt to bring politics into community event. I
do not see any genuine reason why an elected Chief Minister be denied
a US visa,'' Nayak told NDTV.com.
There was no immediate response from the State Department weather
there is any change in the US policy on granting visa to Modi. The
State Department had denied Modi a US visa in 2005.
''We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations,'' urged
Coalition against Genocide in a letter to Secretary Rice.
Coalition against Genocide, a representative body of some 25 Indian
American organisations, had a successful public campaign against
Modi's visa application in 2005 when he was scheduled to attend the
annual convention of Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
Opposing such a campaign against Modi, Nayak told NDTV.com: ''The
invitation was accepted by Modi. However, we are not aware if he has
applied for a US visa. This is for his office to do and at present we
are not aware about it.''
Nayak was in Ahmadabad last month to invite Modi for the World
Gujarati Conference 2008, which is expected to be attended by several
thousand Gujaratis from all over the world.
However, officials of the Coalition Against Genocide told NDTV.Com
that they have reliable information that the Gujarat Chief Minister is
planning to apply for a US visa to attend the convention.
''The United States should not unwittingly be the platform from which
these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in India exploit the
opportunity to rally the support base among Indian Diaspora
communities and raise international legitimacy and standing,'' the
Coalition wrote.
''It would be dangerous at this juncture of Indian political process
to give Mr. Modi that long denied and therefore much coveted window,''
the letter said.
While the State Department did not had any response to the letter,
only a few months ago, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, had told reporters that there
was no change in the US policy on the issue.
======================================
Indian-Americans divided over invitation to Modi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indians_Abroad/NRIs_divided_over_invitation_to_Modi/articleshow/3191843.cms
3 Jul 2008, 1239 hrs IST,PTI
NEW YORK: The Indian-American groups across the United States are
sharply divided over invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi to attend the second World Gujarati Conference to be
held in New Jersey.
While some organisations are working behind the scene mounting
pressure on the US government to grant him visa to attend the meet,
the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25
bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
asking her to deny visa to the chief minister.
The invitation was sent by the Association of Indian Americans in
North America (AIANA), organisers of the meet, but its President Sunil
Nayak had said issuance of visa is a matter between American
authorities and Modi. However, he had expressed the hope that Modi
would be able to attend the three-day conference beginning from Aug 29
in which some 50,000 Gujaratis from the world over are expected to
participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati Conference in 2005 in view of
anti-Muslim riots in the state for which some organisations had blamed
him but he did talk to the delegates and press through a video link.
In its letter to Rice, the Coalition Against Genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States "under any conditions"
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied visa earlier
remain "largely unchanged" and "minority communities in the state
continue face systematic human rights violations."
"Modi has not only expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence; but he
has continued to justify them, as he has a spate of extra judicial
killings by his police. And, the state continues to persecute civil
society groups who have been trying to speak up for the victims under
very difficult circumstances," said the letter.
======================================
US Indians split over Modi invitation
http://nri.in.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1537593
Thursday, 03 July 2008
While some organisations are mounting pressure on the US government to
grant him visa, the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella
organisation of 25 bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State
Rice asking her to deny visa to Modi
New York: Indian-American groups across the United States are sharply
divided over the invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi to attend the second World Gujarati Conference being held in New
Jersey.
While some organisations are working behind the scenes mounting
pressure on the US government to grant him visa to attend the meet,
the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25
bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
asking her to deny visa to the chief minister.
The invitation was sent by the Association of Indian Americans in
North America (AIANA), organisers of the meet, but its President Sunil
Nayak had said visa issue is a matter between American authorities and
Modi.
However, he expressed the hope that Modi would be able to attend the
three-day conference beginning Aug 29, in which some 50,000 Gujaratis
from the world over are expected to participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati Conference in 2005 in view of the
anti-Muslim riots in the state for which some organisations had blamed
him, but he did talk to the delegates and the press through a video
link.
In its letter to Rice, the Coalition Against Genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States "under any conditions"
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied a visa earlier
remain "largely unchanged" and "minority communities in the state
continue to face systematic rights violations."
"Modi has not only expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence but he
has continued to justify them, and the extra judicial killings by his
police. And, the state continues to persecute civil groups who have
been trying to speak up for the victims under very difficult
circumstances," said the letter.
(c) Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved.
======================================
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/001200807030921.htm
Thursday, July 3, 2008 : 0945 Hrs
New York (PTI): The Indian American groups across the United States
are sharply divided over invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi to attend the second World Gujarati Conference to be
held in New Jersey.
While some organisations are working behind the scene mounting
pressure on the US government to grant him visa to attend the meet,
the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25
bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
asking her to deny visa to the chief minister.
The invitation was sent by the Association of Indian Americans in
North America (AIANA), organisers of the meet, but its President Sunil
Nayak had said issuance of visa is a matter between American
authorities and Modi. However, he had expressed the hope that Modi
would be able to attend the three-day conference begining from Aug 29
in which some 50,000 Gujaratis from the world over are expected to
participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati Conference in 2005 in view of
anti-Muslim riots in the state for which some organisations had blamed
him but he did talk to the delegates and press through a video link.
In its letter to Rice, the Coalition Against Genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States "under any conditions"
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied visa earlier
remain "largely unchanged" and "minority communities in the state
continue face systematic human rights violations."
"Modi has not only expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence; but he
has continued to justify them, as he has a spate of extra judicial
killings by his police. And, the state continues to persecute civil
society groups who have been trying to speak up for the victims under
very difficult circumstances," said the letter.
The United States should not "unwittingly be the platform from which
these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in India exploit the
opportunity to rally the support base among Indian Diaspora
communities and raise international legitimacy and standing," it said.
It would be "dangerous" at this juncture of Indian political process
to give Modi that "long denied and therefore much coveted window."
"As recently as April 2008, Modi enacted the anti-conversion law in
Gujarat that effectively bars religious conversions, thereby crippling
the provisions of religious freedom in the state," the letter released
by the coalition said.
Not only Modi, it said, was responsible for the death of over 2,000
Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but "six years after the
Gujarat-state sponsored violence, the Muslim community in Gujarat is
subjected to a devastating economic and social boycott,
institutionalised at every level."
"Most have received little, if no compensation for the deaths of loved
ones and loss of property; thousands are still displaced, without
homes, work, or access to decent schools for their children. At the
level of the courts too, Muslims in Gujarat have received little
justice, barring a few exceptions; and the few that have managed to
push their cases forward have met with threats, physical harm and
harassment," the letter alleged.
"Noting the prejudice extending at every level of the state apparatus,
the Supreme Court ordered cases related to the 2002 massacres to be
moved out of Gujarat," it said.
======================================
NRI bodies oppose US visa to Modi
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/330491.html
Express news service
Posted online: Thursday, July 03, 2008 at 2248 hrs IST
New Delhi, July 2
In a major embarrassment to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a
group of Indian-American organisations has written to US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice urging her not to allow Modi to enter the
United States.
The Gujarat CM has been invited to be the chief guest at the second
World Gujarati Conference, called 'Chaalo Gujarat', a major three-day
event from August 29 to 31, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) to "reconnect the younger
generation with their place of origin". Thirty five thousand people
from India and the Gujarati diaspora are expected to attend, with
prominent invitees including Mukesh and Anil Ambani, technocrat Sam
Pitroda, economist Jagdish Bhagwati, singer Pankaj Udhas and
cricketers Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel.
However, the letter, written under the banner of the Coalition Against
Genocide (CAG) and supported by 25 civil society organisations,
alleges that Modi's coming to the US is "to rally the support base
among Indian diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy
and standing," adding that "it would be dangerous at this juncture of
Indian political process to give Mr Modi that long denied and
much-coveted window."
The missive goes on to outline how "minority communities in his state
continue to face systematic human rights violations," and holds Modi
responsible for the deaths of over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement
of 2,00,000 more. Six years after the "state sponsored violence,"
there have been very few convictions and Muslims continue to suffer
economic and social boycott, reminds the letter.
It also mentions the anti-conversion law enacted by Gujarat making it
difficult for any Hindu to convert to any other religion.
Meanwhile, a source from Modi's office told The Indian Express that
the Chief Minister will not apply for a visa until and unless the US
reviews his previous application. Modi was denied a US visa in 2005
after his allegedly biased handling of the communal violence in
Gujarat in 2002. The US State Department had also revoked his tourist
visa then.
Nonetheless, it is understood that the Gujarat CM is planning to
address the function through video conferencing or live telecast.
======================================
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=898bd669-e394-4bd0-9fb7-59bac282768b
Dharam Shourie, Press Trust Of India
New York, July 03, 2008
First Published: 12:25 IST(3/7/2008)
Last Updated: 12:33 IST(3/7/2008)
The Indian American groups across the United States are sharply
divided over invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
to attend the second World Gujarati Conference to be held in New
Jersey.
While some organisations are working behind the scene mounting
pressure on the US government to grant him visa to attend the meet,
the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25
bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
asking her to deny visa to the chief minister.
The Association of Indian Americans in North America (AIANA),
organisers of the meet, sent the invitation but its President Sunil
Nayak had said issuance of visa is a matter between American
authorities and Modi.
However, he had expressed the hope that Modi would be able to attend
the three-day conference begining from August 29 in which some 50,000
Gujaratis from the world over are expected to participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati Conference in 2005 in view of
anti-Muslim riots in the state for which some organisations had blamed
him but he did talk to the delegates and press through a video link.
In its letter to Rice, the Coalition Against Genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States "under any conditions"
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied visa earlier
remain "largely unchanged" and "minority communities in the state
continue face systematic human rights violations."
"Modi has not only expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence; but he
has continued to justify them, as he has a spate of extra judicial
killings by his police. And, the state continues to persecute civil
society groups who have been trying to speak up for the victims under
very difficult circumstances," said the letter.
The United States should not "unwittingly be the platform from which
these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in India exploit the
opportunity to rally the support base among Indian Diaspora
communities and raise international legitimacy and standing," it said.
It would be "dangerous" at this juncture of Indian political process
to give Modi that "long denied and therefore much coveted window."
"As recently as April 2008, Modi enacted the anti-conversion law in
Gujarat that effectively bars religious conversions, thereby crippling
the provisions of religious freedom in the state," the letter released
by the coalition said.
Modi, it said, was responsible for the death of over 2,000 Muslims and
the displacement of 200,000 more, but "six years after the
Gujarat-state sponsored violence, the Muslim community in Gujarat is
subjected to a devastating economic and social boycott,
institutionalised at every level."
"Most have received little, if no compensation for the deaths of loved
ones and loss of property; thousands are still displaced, without
homes, work, or access to decent schools for their children.
At the level of the courts too, Muslims in Gujarat have received
little justice, barring a few exceptions; and the few that have
managed to push their cases forward have met with threats, physical
harm and harassment," the letter alleged.
"Noting the prejudice extending at every level of the state apparatus,
the Supreme Court ordered cases related to the 2002 massacres to be
moved out of Gujarat," it said.
======================================
US urged to deny visa to head of Indian state
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=2244
Friday, 4th July 2008. 11:29am
By: Vishal Arora.
New Delhi: More than two-dozen organisations associated with Indian
Americans have urged the US Department of State to deny a visa to
Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat state where religious
minorities face intense persecution, who intends to attend a function
in the US.
Modi is reportedly planning to attend a three-day global conference of
Gujaratis (people from Gujarat) in New Jersey beginning August 29 and
hosted by the Association of Indian Americans of North America
(AIANA).
"We urge the State Department not to allow Mr Modi to enter the
country under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was
denied a visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority
communities in his state continue to face systematic human rights
violations," said the Coalition Against Genocide (CAG) in a letter to
Condoleezza Rice, US State Secretary, on July 1. The CAG is a
federation of Indian American organisations that came together in
response to the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in February 2002.
Modi, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was denied visa to the
US in 2005 after the CAG launched a campaign against him highlighting
his alleged role in the killing of more than 2,000 Muslims in 2002.
Hindu nationalist groups indulged in violence after a few workers of
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) were killed in
a train fire in Godhra district, which the VHP claimed was an act of
terrorism by Muslims. Most of those responsible for the killing remain
at large.
The CAG warned the US against being the platform from which "these
unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in India exploit the opportunity
to rally the support base among Indian Diaspora communities and raise
international legitimacy and standing".
"Six years after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence, the Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalised at every level. Most have received little,
if no compensation for the deaths of loved ones and loss of property;
thousands are still displaced, without homes, work, or access to
decent schools for their children. At the level of the courts too,
Muslims in Gujarat have received little justice, barring a few
exceptions; and the few that have managed to push their cases forward
have met with threats, physical harm and harassment," the CAG added.
It also reminded the US of the 'anti-conversion' law enacted by the
Modi government in April 2008. Named 'Gujarat Freedom of Religion
Act', the legislation is believed to target Christian conversions
crippling the provisions of religious freedom in the state. Like
Muslims, the Christian community also feels unsafe in Gujarat.
Numerous incidents of anti-Christian violence have been reported from
the state during the ongoing rule of Modi.
The Indian American organisations also noted that in a recent expose
by an investigative magazine, Tehelka, a Gujarat state prosecutor
appointed by Modi was captured on video confessing to protecting the
perpetrators of the 2002 violence. "Further, one of the accused
involved in the killings, confessed to Mr Modi having transferred
several court judges as to protect him from any convictions." (The
Tehelka expose can be read online at
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107DEVIL.asp)
======================================
NRI bodies oppose US visa to Modi
http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20080703/814/tnl-nri-bodies-oppose-us-visa-to-modi.html
Thu, Jul 3 02:10 AM
In a major embarrassment to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a
group of Indian-American organisations has written to US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice urging her not to allow Modi to enter the
United States.
The Gujarat CM has been invited to be the chief guest at the second
World Gujarati Conference, called 'Chaalo Gujarat', a major three-day
event from August 29 to 31, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) to "reconnect the younger
generation with their place of origin". Thirty five thousand people
from India and the Gujarati diaspora are expected to attend, with
prominent invitees including Mukesh and Anil Ambani, technocrat Sam
Pitroda, economist Jagdish Bhagwati, singer Pankaj Udhas and
cricketers Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel.
However, the letter, written under the banner of the Coalition Against
Genocide (CAG) and supported by 25 civil society organisations,
alleges that Modi's coming to the US is "to rally the support base
among Indian diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy
and standing," adding that "it would be dangerous at this juncture of
Indian political process to give Mr Modi that long denied and
much-coveted window."
The missive goes on to outline how "minority communities in his state
continue to face systematic human rights violations," and holds Modi
responsible for the deaths of over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement
of 2,00,000 more. Six years after the "state sponsored violence,"
there have been very few convictions and Muslims continue to suffer
economic and social boycott, reminds the letter.
It also mentions the anti-conversion law enacted by Gujarat making it
difficult for any Hindu to convert to any other religion.
Meanwhile, a source from Modi's office told The Indian Express that
the Chief Minister will not apply for a visa until and unless the US
reviews his previous application. Modi was denied a US visa in 2005
after his allegedly biased handling of the communal violence in
Gujarat in 2002. The US State Department had also revoked his tourist
visa then.
Nonetheless, it is understood that the Gujarat CM is planning to
address the function through video conferencing or live telecast.
======================================
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=452822&sid=NAT&sname=
New York, July 03: The Indian American groups across the United States
are sharply divided over invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi to attend the second world Gujarati conference to be
held in New Jersey.
While some organisations are working behind the scene mounting
pressure on the US government to grant him visa to attend the meet,
the coalition against genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25
bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
asking her to deny visa to the Chief Minister.
The invitation was sent by the Association of Indian Americans in
North America (AIANA), organisers of the meet, but its President Sunil
Nayak had said issuance of visa is a matter between American
authorities and Modi. However, he had expressed the hope that Modi
would be able to attend the three-day conference beginning from Aug 29
in which some 50,000 Gujaratis from the world over are expected to
participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati conference in 2005 in view of
anti-Muslim riots in the state for which some organisations had blamed
him but he did talk to the delegates and press through a video link.
In its letter to Rice, the coalition against genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States "under any conditions"
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied visa earlier
remain "largely unchanged" and "minority communities in the state
continue face systematic human rights violations."
"Modi has not only expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence; but he
has continued to justify them, as he has a spate of extra judicial
killings by his police. And, the state continues to persecute civil
society groups who have been trying to speak up for the victims under
very difficult circumstances," said the letter.
The United States should not "unwittingly be the platform from which
these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in India exploit the
opportunity to rally the support base among Indian diaspora
communities and raise international legitimacy and standing," it said.
It would be "dangerous" at this juncture of Indian political process
to give Modi that "long denied and therefore much coveted window." "As
recently as April 2008, Modi enacted the anti-conversion law in
Gujarat that effectively bars religious conversions, thereby crippling
the provisions of religious freedom in the state," the letter released
by the coalition said.
Not only Modi, it said, was responsible for the death of over 2,000
Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but "six years after the
Gujarat-state sponsored violence, the Muslim community in Gujarat is
subjected to a devastating economic and social boycott,
institutionalised at every level."
"Most have received little, if no compensation for the deaths of loved
ones and loss of property; thousands are still displaced, without
homes, work, or access to decent schools for their children. At the
level of the courts too, Muslims in Gujarat have received little
justice, barring a few exceptions; and the few that have managed to
push their cases forward have met with threats, physical harm and
harassment," the letter alleged.
"Noting the prejudice extending at every level of the state apparatus,
the supreme court ordered cases related to the 2002 massacres to be
moved out of gujarat," it said.
The organisations which signed on the letter include alliance for a
secular and Democratic South Asia (ASDSA), Association of Indian
Muslims of America (AIM), Campaign to Stop Funding Hate (CSFH),
Coalition for a Secular and Democratic India (CSDI), Dalit Freedom
Network (DFN), Dharma Megha inc, Gujarati Muslim Association of
America (GMAA), Hindu Vaishnava Center for Enlightenment, India
Foundation Inc, Indian Buddhist Association, Indian Muslim Council-USA
(IMC-USA), Indian Muslim Educational Foundation of North America
(IMEFNA), and Sikh American Heritage Organisation (SAHO).
The conference would highlight business, culture, education and family
values and would provide an opportunity to companies there to showcase
their products and plans for possible business tie-ups.
Bureau Report
======================================
No visa for Modi, activists urge Condoleeza Rice
http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/02July2008_78390.html
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 (18:57:14)
Ahmedabad: While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's supporters in
the US have invited him for a world Gujarati conference in August,
activists have urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not to grant
him a visa given the allegations of rights violations against him.
In a petition, 25 organisations of non-resident Indians under an
umbrella group, Coalition Against Genocide, have told Rice, "It has
come to our attention that Narendra Modi is once again planning to
apply for a visa to enter the US. We urge the State Department not to
allow Modi to enter the country under any conditions, as the
circumstances under which he was denied a visa in 2005 remain largely
unchanged, and the minority communities in his state continue to face
systematic human rights violations."
Modi was denied a visa to visit the US after he was accused of turning
a blind eye to the communal violence in Gujarat in which at least
1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed, according to
the official figures. The letter dated July 1 states: "The US should
not unwittingly be the platform from which these unrepentant and yet
ascendant forces in India exploit the opportunity to rally the support
base among Indian diaspora communities and raise international
legitimacy and standing."
Pointing out that 'not only was Modi responsible for the deaths of
over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but six years
after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence', it says, "The Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalized at every level."
Modi, along with a number of prominent Gujarati leaders, has been
invited to attend the three-day second world Gujarati conference,
called Chaalo Gujarat, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) and to be held in Edison in late
August. (IANS)
======================================
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Indian_Americans_divided_over_invitation_to_Narendra_Modi_/articleshow/3191432.cms
3 Jul, 2008, 1117 hrs IST, PTI
NEW YORK: The Indian American groups across the United States are
sharply divided over invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi to attend the second World Gujarati Conference to be
held in New Jersey.
While some organisations are working behind the scene mounting
pressure on the US government to grant him visa to attend the meet,
the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25
bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
asking her to deny visa to the chief minister.
The invitation was sent by the Association of Indian Americans in
North America (AIANA), organisers of the meet, but its President Sunil
Nayak had said issuance of visa is a matter between American
authorities and Modi. However, he had expressed the hope that Modi
would be able to attend the three-day conference begining from Aug 29
in which some 50,000 Gujaratis from the world over are expected to
participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati Conference in 2005 in view of
anti-Muslim riots in the state for which some organisations had blamed
him but he did talk to the delegates and press through a video link.
In its letter to Rice, the Coalition Against Genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States "under any conditions"
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied visa earlier
remain "largely unchanged" and "minority communities in the state
continue face systematic human rights violations."
"Modi has not only expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence; but he
has continued to justify them, as he has a spate of extra judicial
killings by his police. And, the state continues to persecute civil
society groups who have been trying to speak up for the victims under
very difficult circumstances," said the letter.
======================================
Continue visa ban on Modi: Indian American orgs to US
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/jul/01/continue_visa_ban_modi_indian_american_orgs_us.html
Submitted on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 06:01.
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Twenty-five Indian American organizations have endorsed a letter
addressed to the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging the
State Department not to allow Modi to enter the United States under
any circumstances.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was denied diplomatic visa to the
United States in 2005 for his responsibility in Gujarat riots of 2002.
The US State Department also revoked his tourist visa. It has affected
Mr. Modi's attempts at projecting himself at the national level.
Following recent win in Gujarat assembly elections, he was hoping for
a reversal of US visa decision to improve his national and
international standing. Recently, supporters of Modi have been trying
to secure the US visa for him.
The Coalition Against Genocide (CAG) which was formed in response to
the Gujarat genocide consists of a number of Indian American
organizations. In the letter signed by 25 organizations and addressed
to Condoleezza Rice, the State Department is urged not to revoke their
2005 order of denying visa to Mr. Modi because the circumstances that
lead to the denial remains.
The letter mentions that the 'minority communities in his state
continue to face systematic human rights violations.' His coming to
the US is "to rally the support base among Indian Diaspora communities
and raise international legitimacy and standing," the letter alleges,
adding that "it would be dangerous at this juncture of Indian
political process to give Mr. Modi that long denied and therefore much
coveted window."
Human rights organizations finds Narendra Modi responsible for the
deaths of over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more. Six
years after the "state sponsored violence," there have been very few
convictions and Muslims continue to suffer economic and social
boycott.
The letter also mentions the anti-conversion law enacted by Gujarat
that makes it difficult for any Hindu to convert to other religion. It
also lists Tehelka expose, Supreme Court ordering cases related to
genocide be tried outside the state, and "fake encounters" as examples
of the grim situation prevailing for minorities in Gujarat.
US embassy in New Delhi said that Modi has not applied for a visa yet.
A decision can be taken only after a formal request is made, adding,
allegations of human rights violations against Narendra Modi will be
reviewed before taking any decision.
The letter sent to the US State Department has been endorsed by the
following constituent organizations of the Coalition Against Genocide:
1. Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia (ASDSA)
2. Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM)
3. Campaign to Stop Funding Hate (CSFH)
4. Coalition for a Secular and Democratic India (CSDI)
5. Dalit Freedom Network (DFN)
6. Dharma Megha Inc.
7. Friends of South Asia (FOSA)
8. Gujarati Muslim Association of America (GMAA)
9. Hindu Vaishnava Center for Enlightenment
10. India Development Society
11. India Foundation Inc.
12. Indian Buddhist Association
13. Indian Muslim Council-USA (IMC-USA)
14. Indian Muslim Educational Foundation of North America (IMEFNA)
15. Indian Muslim Relief & Charities (IMRC)
16. International Service Society
17. International South Asia Forum-NY (INSAF-NY)
18. Muslim Vohra Association
19. Muslim Youth Awareness Alliance (MYAA)
20. Non-Resident Indians for Secular and Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI)
21. Seva International
22. Sikh American Heritage Organization (SAHO)
23. South Asian Progressive Action Collective (SAPAC)
24. Supporters of Human Rights in India (SHRI)
25. Vedanta Society of East Lansing
======================================
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/03modi.htm
Dharam Shourie in New York PTI July 03, 2008 10:58 IST
The Indian American community across the United States is sharply
divided over an invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi to attend the second World Gujarati Conference to be held in New
Jersey.
While some organisations are mounting pressure on the US government to
grant him a visa to attend the meet, the Coalition Against Genocide,
an umbrella organisation of some 25 bodies, has written a letter to
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, asking her to deny visa to the
chief minister.
The invitation was sent by the Association of Indian Americans in
North America, organisers of the meet, but its President Sunil Nayak
had said that issuance of visa is a matter between American
authorities and Modi. However, he had expressed the hope that Modi
would be able to attend the three-day conference, beginning from
August 29, in which some 50,000 Gujaratis from across the world are
expected to participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati Conference in 2005 in view of
anti-Muslim riots in the state but he did talk to the delegates and
press through a video link.
In its letter to Rice, the Coalition Against Genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States 'under any conditions'
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied visa earlier
remain largely unchanged and minority communities in the state
continue to face systematic human rights violations.
"Modi has not only expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence; but he
has continued to justify them, and he has justified a spate of extra
judicial killings by his police. And, the state continues to persecute
civil society groups, who have been trying to speak up for the victims
under very difficult circumstances," said the letter.
The United States should not "unwittingly be the platform from which
these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in India exploit the
opportunity to rally the support base among Indian Diaspora
communities and raise international legitimacy and standing," it said.
It would be dangerous at this juncture of Indian political process to
give Modi that 'long denied and therefore much coveted window'.
"As recently as April 2008, Modi enacted the anti-conversion law in
Gujarat that effectively bars religious conversions, thereby crippling
the provisions of religious freedom in the state," the letter released
by the coalition said.
Modi, the coalition stated, was responsible for the death of over
2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more. "Six years after
the Gujarat-state sponsored violence, the Muslim community in Gujarat
is subjected to a devastating economic and social boycott,
institutionalised at every level," the letter said.
"Most have received little, if no compensation for the deaths of loved
ones and loss of property; thousands are still displaced, without
homes, work, or access to decent schools for their children. At the
level of the courts too, Muslims in Gujarat have received little
justice, barring a few exceptions; and the few that have managed to
push their cases
forward have met with threats, physical harm and harassment," the
letter alleged.
"Noting the prejudice extending at every level of the state apparatus,
the Supreme Court ordered cases related to the 2002 massacres to be
moved out of Gujarat," it said.
======================================
'No visa for Narendra Modi'
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1175163
IANS
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 19:40 IST
AHMEDABAD: While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's supporters in
the US have invited him for a world Gujarati conference in August,
activists have urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not to grant
him a visa given the allegations of rights violations against him.
In a petition, 25 organisations of non-resident Indians under an
umbrella group, Coalition Against Genocide, have told Rice: "It has
come to our attention that Narendra Modi is once again planning to
apply for a visa to enter the US."
"We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations."
Modi was denied a visa to visit the US after he was accused of turning
a blind eye to the communal violence in Gujarat in which at least
1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed, according to
the official figures.
The letter dated July 1 states: "The US should not unwittingly be the
platform from which these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in
India exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among Indian
diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and standing."
Pointing out that "not only was Modi responsible for the deaths of
over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but six years
after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence", it says: "The Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalized at every level."
Modi, along with a number of prominent Gujarati leaders, has been
invited to attend the three-day second world Gujarati conference,
called Chaalo Gujarat, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) and to be held in Edison in late
August.
======================================
Indian Americans divided over invitation to Narendra Modi
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/$All/880C6E3042B96B7A6525747B0016F6A9?OpenDocument
Dharam Shourie
New York, Jul 3 (PTI) The Indian American groups across the United
States are sharply divided over invitation sent to Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi to attend the second World Gujarati Conference
to be held in New Jersey.
While some organisations are working behind the scene mounting
pressure on the US government to grant him visa to attend the meet,
the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25
bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
asking her to deny visa to the chief minister.
The invitation was sent by the Association of Indian Americans in
North America (AIANA), organisers of the meet, but its President Sunil
Nayak had said issuance of visa is a matter between American
authorities and Modi. However, he had expressed the hope that Modi
would be able to attend the three-day conference begining from Aug 29
in which some 50,000 Gujaratis from the world over are expected to
participate.
Modi was denied visa to the Gujarati Conference in 2005 in view of
anti-Muslim riots in the state for which some organisations had blamed
him but he did talk to the delegates and press through a video link.
In its letter to Rice, the Coalition Against Genocide requested her
not to allow Modi to enter the United States "under any conditions"
as, it said, circumstances under which he was denied visa earlier
remain "largely unchanged" and "minority communities in the state
continue face systematic human rights violations." "Modi has not only
expressed no remorse for the 2002 violence; but he has continued to
justify them, as he has a spate of extra judicial killings by his
police. And, the state continues to persecute civil society groups who
have been trying to speak up for the victims under very difficult
circumstances," said the letter. PTI
======================================
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20080702/818/tnl-no-visa-for-modi-activists-urge-us.html
Wed, Jul 2 06:31 PM
Ahmedabad, July 2 (IANS) While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's
supporters in the US have invited him for a world Gujarati conference
in August, activists have urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
not to grant him a visa given the allegations of rights violations
against him.
In a petition, 25 organisations of non-resident Indians under an
umbrella group, Coalition Against Genocide, have told Rice: 'It has
come to our attention that Narendra Modi is once again planning to
apply for a visa to enter the US.'
'We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations.'
Modi was denied a visa to visit the US after he was accused of turning
a blind eye to the communal violence in Gujarat in which at least
1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed, according to
the official figures.
The letter dated July 1 states: 'The US should not unwittingly be the
platform from which these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in
India exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among Indian
diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and standing.'
Pointing out that 'not only was Modi responsible for the deaths of
over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but six years
after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence', it says: 'The Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalized at every level.'
Modi, along with a number of prominent Gujarati leaders, has been
invited to attend the three-day second world Gujarati conference,
called Chaalo Gujarat, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) and to be held in Edison in late
August.
======================================
US association against visa to Modi
http://www.gujaratglobal.com/nextSub.php?id=4189&cattype=NEWS
2008-07-03 16:46:05
Gujarat Global News Network, Ahmedabad
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's plan to visit US may once go
awry as some groups in the US are opposing his entry in the states. A
group Coalition Against Genocide has written to US secretary of state
Condoleeza Rice to not to grant visa to Modi.
There are reports that some NRGs have once again started efforts to
call Modi in US for the forthcoming World Gujarati Conference.
Protesting against this the group in a letter dated July 1 has urged
not to issue visa to Modi stating that "the conditions under which he
was denied a visa in 2005 remains largely unchanged and the minority
community in the state continue to face human right violations".
It may be recalled that the Association of Indian Americans of North
America (AIANA) had invited Modi to their first conference in 2005.
Modi was denied visa then. The association has arranged a second
conference to be held in August this year and it has invited Modi.
======================================
Deny US visa to Modi: NRI panel to Rice
http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=134269576
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
New York: Claiming that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is
planning to apply for the US visa to attend the World Gujarati
Conference in New Jersey in August, as many as 25 Indian American
organisations urged the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that he
should not be allowed to enter the country under any circumstances.
Sunil Nayak, head of Association of Indian American in North America,
which is organising the mega event, immediately condemned such an
effort. ''This is an attempt to bring politics into community event. I
do not see any genuine reason why an elected Chief Minister be denied
a US visa,'' Nayak told NDTV.com.
There was no immediate response from the State Department weather
there is any change in the US policy on granting visa to Modi. The
State Department had denied Modi a US visa in 2005.
''We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations,'' urged
Coalition against Genocide in a letter to Secretary Rice.
Coalition against Genocide, a representative body of some 25 Indian
American organisations, had a successful public campaign against
Modi's visa application in 2005 when he was scheduled to attend the
annual convention of Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
Opposing such a campaign against Modi, Nayak told NDTV.com: ''The
invitation was accepted by Modi. However, we are not aware if he has
applied for a US visa. This is for his office to do and at present we
are not aware about it.''
Nayak was in Ahmadabad last month to invite Modi for the World
Gujarati Conference 2008, which is expected to be attended by several
thousand Gujaratis from all over the world.
However, officials of the Coalition Against Genocide told NDTV.Com
that they have reliable information that the Gujarat Chief Minister is
planning to apply for a US visa to attend the convention.
''The United States should not unwittingly be the platform from which
these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in India exploit the
opportunity to rally the support base among Indian Diaspora
communities and raise international legitimacy and standing,'' the
Coalition wrote.
''It would be dangerous at this juncture of Indian political process
to give Mr. Modi that long denied and therefore much coveted window,''
the letter said.
While the State Department did not had any response to the letter,
only a few months ago, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, had told reporters that there
was no change in the US policy on the issue.
======================================
'No visa for Modi'
http://andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=34996
Updated: 07-03-2008
Ahmedabad, July 2 While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's
supporters in the US have invited him for a world Gujarati conference
in August, activists have urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
not to grant him a visa given the allegations of rights violations
against him.
In a petition, 25 organisations of non-resident Indians under an
umbrella group, Coalition Against Genocide, have told Rice: 'It has
come to our attention that Narendra Modi is once again planning to
apply for a visa to enter the US.'
'We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations.'
Modi was denied a visa to visit the US after he was accused of turning
a blind eye to the communal violence in Gujarat in which at least
1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed, according to
the official figures.
The letter dated July 1 states: 'The US should not unwittingly be the
platform from which these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in
India exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among Indian
diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and standing.'
Pointing out that 'not only was Modi responsible for the deaths of
over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but six years
after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence', it says: 'The Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalized at every level.'
Modi, along with a number of prominent Gujarati leaders, has been
invited to attend the three-day second world Gujarati conference,
called Chaalo Gujarat, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) and to be held in Edison in late
August.
======================================
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2008/jul/02/no_visa_modi_activists_urge_us.html
Submitted on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 12:49.
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's supporters in
the US have invited him for a world Gujarati conference in August,
activists have urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not to grant
him a visa given the allegations of rights violations against him.
In a petition, 25 organisations of non-resident Indians under an
umbrella group, Coalition Against Genocide, have told Rice: "It has
come to our attention that Narendra Modi is once again planning to
apply for a visa to enter the US."
"We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations."
Modi was denied a visa to visit the US after he was accused of turning
a blind eye to the communal violence in Gujarat in which at least
1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed, according to
the official figures.
The letter dated July 1 states: "The US should not unwittingly be the
platform from which these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in
India exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among Indian
diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and standing."
Pointing out that "not only was Modi responsible for the deaths of
over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but six years
after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence", it says: "The Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalized at every level."
Modi, along with a number of prominent Gujarati leaders, has been
invited to attend the three-day second world Gujarati conference,
called Chaalo Gujarat, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) and to be held in Edison in late
August.
======================================
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/World/20080702/989825.html
Ahmedabad July 02, 2008 7:05:08 PM IST
While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's supporters in the US have
invited him for a world Gujarati conference in August, activists have
urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not to grant him a visa
given the allegations of rights violations against him.
In a petition, 25 organisations of non-resident Indians under an
umbrella group, Coalition Against Genocide, have told Rice: "It has
come to our attention that Narendra Modi is once again planning to
apply for a visa to enter the US."
"We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations."
Modi was denied a visa to visit the US after he was accused of turning
a blind eye to the communal violence in Gujarat in which at least
1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed, according to
the official figures.
The letter dated July 1 states: "The US should not unwittingly be the
platform from which these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in
India exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among Indian
diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and standing."
Pointing out that "not only was Modi responsible for the deaths of
over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but six years
after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence", it says: "The Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalized at every level."
Modi, along with a number of prominent Gujarati leaders, has been
invited to attend the three-day second world Gujarati conference,
called Chaalo Gujarat, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) and to be held in Edison in late
August.
======================================
NRIs to thwart Modi visa attempt
http://howrah.org/india_news/17881.html
03 July, 2008 03:36:03
BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
AHMEDABAD
July 3: Over 25 NRI organisations, under the umbrella of the coalition
against genocide, have appealed to US secretary of state Condoleezza
Rice to thwart Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's attempt to
obtain a US visa.
A Chalo Gujarat Conference is going to be held in August in New Jersey
and is expected to be attended by over 50,000 Gujaratis. The
conference organisers, who are Mr Modi's supporters, want the Gujarat
chief minister to be present. Since last two years, Mr Modi has been
addressing the Diaspora through video conferencing. Mr Modi was denied
a visa in 2005, following representations by various national and
international human rights organisations who pointed out his role in
Gujarat riots and urged the US government to not allow him to enter
the country.
In a fresh appeal on Wednesday, 25 organisations under the aegis of
"Coalition Against Genocide", they drew the attention of Ms Rice that
Mr Modi was once again planning to apply for visa.
The Coalition Against Genocide includes a diverse spectrum of
organisations associated with Indian-Americans that have come together
in response to the Gujarat genocide to demand justice and
accountability. "We urge the state department not to allow Mr Modi to
enter the country (US) under any conditions, as the circumstances
under which he was denied a visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and
the minority communities in his state continue to face systematic
human rights violations," they said, adding US should not unwittingly
become the platform for these unrepentant yet ascendant forces in
India to exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among
Indian Diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and
standing.
"It would be dangerous at this juncture of Indian political process to
give Mr Modi that long denied and much coveted window," they added.
The coalition pointed out that Mr Modi was responsible for the deaths
of over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more.
======================================
No visa for Modi, activists urge US
July 2nd, 2008
THAINDIAN
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/no-visa-for-modi-activists-urge-us_10067025.html
Ahmedabad, July 2 (IANS) While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's
supporters in the US have invited him for a world Gujarati conference
in August, activists have urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
not to grant him a visa given the allegations of rights violations
against him. In a petition, 25 organisations of non-resident Indians
under an umbrella group, Coalition Against Genocide, have told Rice:
"It has come to our attention that Narendra Modi is once again
planning to apply for a visa to enter the US."
"We urge the State Department not to allow Modi to enter the country
under any conditions, as the circumstances under which he was denied a
visa in 2005 remain largely unchanged, and the minority communities in
his state continue to face systematic human rights violations."
Modi was denied a visa to visit the US after he was accused of turning
a blind eye to the communal violence in Gujarat in which at least
1,169 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed, according to
the official figures.
The letter dated July 1 states: "The US should not unwittingly be the
platform from which these unrepentant and yet ascendant forces in
India exploit the opportunity to rally the support base among Indian
diaspora communities and raise international legitimacy and standing."
Pointing out that "not only was Modi responsible for the deaths of
over 2,000 Muslims and the displacement of 200,000 more, but six years
after the Gujarat-state sponsored violence", it says: "The Muslim
community in Gujarat is subjected to a devastating economic and social
boycott, institutionalized at every level."
Modi, along with a number of prominent Gujarati leaders, has been
invited to attend the three-day second world Gujarati conference,
called Chaalo Gujarat, organised by the Association of Indian
Americans of North America (AIANA) and to be held in Edison in late
August.
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