America opens its gates for ‘verydynamic’ Narendra Modi

[hawx]

Ahmedabad: After Europe embraced him, the United
States of America seems to have also come around to
appreciate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s style
of governance. A US Congress delegation on Thursday
invited Modi to visit their country – effectively ending
Washington’s long standing aversion to the man who is
being dubbed as one of the most serious contender to
be Prime Minister of India in 2014.
A report quoting a member of the delegation said that
Narendra Modi has been invited to visit US as they like
his motto on 'minimum government maximum
governance'. The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
was referred to as a ‘very dynamic leader’, the report
added.
The 18-member delegation, led by Republican
Congressmen from Illinois Aaron Schock, met Modi at
his official residence today afternoon, following their
visit to Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram and held over an
hour-long closed-door meeting with him and high
ranking state officials.
Following the post-Godhra riots in 2002, the Unites
States in 2005 had denied diplomatic visa to Modi and
also revoked his already granted B-1/B-2 visa, under a
section of the Immigration and Nationality Act which
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.
The change in US’ position comes shortly after the
United Kingdom - which had also refused to deal with
Narendra Modi - changed this policy in October 2012.
Similarly, the European Union has also ended over a
decade-old boycott of Modi in 2012 by ‘delinking’ his
image from any human rights issues.
The US Congress and business delegations has been
trip organised in conjunction with the National Indian
American Public Policy Institute will also feature
meetings with Indian government officials, MPs and
business leaders.
While welcoming the US delegation, Modi spoke about
the fast and inclusive, environment-friendly process of
development in Gujarat, an official statement issued
here said. "With hard work, we have been able to
create an impact in the country," Modi said.
During the interaction, Schock pointed out that the
people in US were keen to work with Gujarat and that
they were impressed by the way the state has
facilitated investment. As per the official press release
Schock state that there was enormous potential to
work together with Gujarat.
It may be recalled that following Modi's fourth
consecutive victory in the 2012 Assembly Elections
Schock had made a statement, congratulating Modi, on
the floor of the US House of Representatives.
Business sector representatives in the delegation has
been led by Illinois-based Punjabi NRI businessman
and Overseas Friends of BJP member Shalabh Kumar.
Other US Parliamentarians in the delegation included
Cynthia Lummis (Republican Congresswoman from
Wyoming) and Cathy M Rodgers (Republican
Congresswoman from Washington state).
In his address to the delegation, Modi urged the need
for humanitarian forces coming together and fight
terrorism along with other challenges of poverty and
unemployment.
Emphasising the need to strengthen the democratic
processes keeping in mind the larger good of people,
Modi also talked about ideas and philosophy of
Mahatma Gandhi.
"Mahatma Gandhi has been and is the biggest light-
house in this journey and Gujarat being the land of
Gandhi believes in these principles. It has been in the
forefront in nurturing such ideals and leading its
people on the path of growth," he told the delegation
as per the official statement.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited the
Akshardham temple, a popular Swaminarayan temple
here. Ater a luncheon meeting with the Mayor of
Ahmedabad Asit Vora, the delegation is scheduled to
experience a ride in the Bus Rapid Transport System
(BRTS).
During their two day stay in Gujarat, the US delegation
is also planning to visit Tata Nano manufacturing plant
in Sanand, Ahmedabad and Gujarat International
Finance Tec-city (GIFT).
In addition to Gujarat, the visiting delegation will visit
Bangalore, Tirupati, New Delhi, Agra, Udaipur, Jaipur
and Amritsar. The delegation will meet the Leader of
the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, senior
BJP leader L K Advani and BJP president Rajnath
Singh.