Modi finds mention in US report despite India chapter on hold

Washington, May 2 (PTI) Chief Minister of western Indian
state Gujarat, 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 Friday.

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. PTI LKJ
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