Why was Modi denied US visa, Advani asks Rice

NO US VISA POWER: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was denied visa for his alleged role in Gujarat riots of 2002.

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New Delhi: Senior BJP leader L K Advani on Saturday raised the issue of US denial of visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at his meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Confirming this, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said Advani asked Rice how the US State Department had issued a clarification that Modi will not be given visa without the latter even applying for it.

"Though granting visa is the right of any sovereign nation it should not ban the entry of any elected chief minister of a democratic country," Advani was quoted as telling Rice.

Rice asked the officials accompanying her to get further details on the issue, Javadekar added.

The clarification was issued by the US after an American leader sought the government's position on the issue in September.

Modi was reportedly denied visa for his alleged role in the Gujarat riots of 2002 which left a trail of death and devastation.

Several human rights groups and sections of the media have accused Modi of inaction and a passive attitude as chief minister when communal riots broke out soon after the Godhra train carnage.

However, the Nanavati Commission looking into the Godhra carnage and the riots that followed, released its report last week, giving a clean chit to Modi.

However, an earlier commission, headed by U C Bannerjee, had indicted Modi in the riots.

Modi was invited to the US by the Gujarati expatriates who wanted him to address their group consisting of NRI business leaders.