The US and Narendra Modi
My respect for the United States has just gone up several notches. Reason being, today the US Consulate in India denied a person called Narendra Modi a diplomatic visa to visit the States and also revoked his existing tourist visa, effectively barring him entry into the country.
Narendra Modi is the Chief Minister of a province in India called Gujarat (incidentally where my roots lie). Gujarat was witness to the worst ever communal riots after partition in India where it was mainly Hindus slaughtering Muslims. Mr. Modi did precious little to stop the carnage and has been labelled by almost the entire country as a murderer. His government has been responsible for turning a blind eye, indeed encouraging gross violations of human rights and oppression of the Muslim community and has tarnished the people and spirit of Gujarat for a long time to come yet.
This interpretation of Modi was vehemently opposed by the then government who were in power and they still continue to support his cause as he brings in the votes from Gujarat, at least for the time being.
Modi was denied a visa with the US state department who stated Section 212 (a)(2)(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act in the US. The Section makes any foreign government official who was responsible or "directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for the visa.
I have heard my share of tales of racism in the States, many of them being real but I also experienced no pains whatsoever obtaining a visa to visit the States, nor was I for a moment made to feel uncomfortable going through immigration at JFK. I also know and have Indian friends all over the States earning an honest living, embracing the country, culture and the comlpete liberty one experiences in the States.
I have always believed that the States is the most welcoming place in the world for people from any country or any ethnic group; it is the easiest place for anyone to work or start a business and it is in all aspects the closest anyone has come to constructing a truly free society. And here once again, the States has shown why they are the greatest nation on earth. To me personally, if India couldn't find Modi guilty and put him behind bars for his deeds, the next best thing was a slap on either cheek, which is what he's been dished out...that too in front of the entire country.
Cheers to Uncle Sam and may his kind increase.
posted by Abs @ 3/18/2005 05:24:00 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Boy...It really is the Land of Opportunities!
Here is the mail i wrote to the TOI editor recently...and obviously got no response!
__________________________
This email is in response to TOI's latest Headlines: "US Snubs India"
is in appropriate. By reading the headline....a reader gets an idea
that US has snubbed India / Indians which is not at all the intent of
the US Immigration authorities. I reckon a headline "US rightfully
Snubs Modi" would be more appropriate. Visa denial is a decision of
the US Immigration Authorities against the individual and not the
Republic of India.
I have been following this case eagerly over the last few days, and i
must say this case been covered rather in appropriately by India's
Flagship New Paper. You need to address this case in a wholistics
manner....and not from the point of view of Narendra Modi or from an
Anti US point of view which is what i have noticed to be happening.
I am indeed happy about the fact that the US Immigration authorities
have come out giving a reason for visa denial, coz they are not
obliged to do so.
I believe these kind of articles, headlines spreads an anti US
sentiment which is rather disturbing and should not be the case.
I will refrain from sharing my opinion on whether Mr. Modi should have
gotten a US visa or not especially a diplomatic one.
I rather not further dwell into this topic. I am sure there are
sufficient Indians in the world who not pay any heed to this sort of
reporting.
I hope some corrective action is taken from here on.
Best regards,
Rohit
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