NEW DELHI, March 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. officials turned down an Indian request Monday and reaffirmed its decision to deny a visa to Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
"The Ministry of External Affairs requested the Department of State to review the decision to revoke his tourist/business visa. Upon review, the State Department re-affirmed the original decision," U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford said in a statement.
Friday, the United States not only denied Modi a diplomatic visa, but also revoked his six-year-old tourist/business visa under Sections 212 (a)(2)(g) of Immigration and Nationality Act, which makes any foreign government official who "was responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for a visa to that country.
Indian and international human rights blamed Modi for not doing enough to contain anti-Muslim violence in his state in 2002. Modi was scheduled to be the chief guest at the annual meeting of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from March 24-26.
