Gujaratis chary of visiting US

With chief minister Narendra Modi denied entry to the US, Gujaratis have reasons to be concerned. Securing a travel permit to the US is considered a notable 'achievement' in their lives.

Modi was denied permission to undertake a 5-day visit to the US on account of the alleged involvement of the state government in spreading communal hatred in the light of the post-Godhra riots that rocked the state in 2002.

Despite Modi's claims that the turning down of his visa is 'an attack on India,' a large section of the intelligentsia feel Modi has been treated 'the way he should have been treated'.

They include noted dansuese Mallika Sarabhai, NGO-activist Teesta Setalvad or a senior faculty member of one of the international-repute educational institutes in the country.

Sarabhai said: "I think that, given the fact that so many international organisations and reports have pointed to the complicity of Narendra Modi, the Gujarat police and the state government in the 2002 riots, it is justified for the US to say that it does not want Modi to visit that country. Had he gone to the US, I am told that there were hundreds of Indians who were planning a protest against his visit."

Mallika was few months ago charged by the Gujarat government with luring people to the US and other foreign countries.

Teesta Setalvad, who was instrumental in the Zaheera Shaikh exposure, believes the US was right in disallowing Modi entry.

Stating that she was speaking on behalf of her organisation, Citizens for Justice and Peace, she said: " We welcome the decision in as much as the fact that the world has not forgotten this incident".

However, others begged to differ. Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) president Chinubhai Shah, terming the incident as "shocking", said the United States cannot judge on what happened in Gujarat.

"Modi is a duly elected chief minister and, like any other citizen, he has the right to travel to any part of the world," said Shah.

Kiran Shah, 24-year-old youth outside the Visa Facilitation Centre (VFC) of the US Government on Ashram Road, said: "I am shocked with US decision. Tomorrow, they may come up with a rule that all Gujaratis are connected with the Godhra aftermath and so none would be allowed to enter the USA."

Added Rakesh Patel, another visa applicant: "How can Bush decide about Modi's role in Gujarat. It is our country's law which is responsible for trying Modi or the Gujarat government".