Modi finds mention in US report despite India chapter on hold

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been singled out in a US panel report on religious freedom as the only person denied entry to America under a special act for alleged "complicity" in the 2002 riots.      

The Gujarat Chief Minister was referred to as "Governor Nahendra Modi" in the annual report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released yesterday.      

Modi's name figures in the report despite the panel putting on hold the chapter on the status of religious freedom in India, saying this would be done after its team visits the country next month to gain perspective on Indian government's response to allegations of communal violence in states like Gujarat and Orissa.      

The report referred to Modi as the only individual who has been denied an American visa under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), which bars entry to the US of those foreigners who are "responsible for or directly carried out, particularly severe violations of religious freedom".      

It said the provision has been invoked only once in 2005, when Modi was denied entry to the US to attend the World Gujarati Meet for his alleged involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots.     

"In March 2005, it (the provision) was used to exclude Governor (sic) Nahendra (sic) Modi of Gujarat State in India for his complicity in the 2002 riots that resulted in the deaths of nearly 2,000 Muslims," it said.