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US ambassador to meet Narendra Modi, favourite to be India's next PM US embargo on Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi may end soon
(about 3 hours later)
The US has moved towards ending an almost decade-long embargo on Narendra Modi, a controversial Hindu nationalist politician who could become India's prime minister at elections to be held within months.The US has moved towards ending an almost decade-long embargo on Narendra Modi, a controversial Hindu nationalist politician who could become India's prime minister at elections to be held within months.
Modi, the candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), has been banned from travel to the US for nearly nine years over his role in religious riots that took place in 2002 in Gujarat, the western state which he runs. Modi, the candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), has been banned from travel to the US for nearly nine years over his role in religious riots that took place in 2002 in Gujarat, the western state that he runs.
Officials in the BJP said on Tuesday that Nancy Powell, the US ambassador to India, is to meet the 63-year-old, perhaps as early as Thursday. Officials in the BJP said on Tuesday that Nancy Powell, the US ambassador to India, will meet the 63-year-old, perhaps as early as Thursday.
"We can confirm the appointment," a US embassy spokesman said. "This is part of our concentrated outreach to senior political and business leaders which began in November to highlight the US-India relationship." "We can confirm the appointment," the US embassy said. "This is part of our concentrated outreach to senior political and business leaders which began in November to highlight the US-India relationship."
Modi came from humble origins to win power in Gujarat more than 12 years ago and is currently campaigning across India in a bid to convert his local success to a victory on the national stage. Recent opinion polls have put him in the lead, though it is unclear if this level of support is sustainable until May when the elections are due. Modi came from humble origins to win power in Gujarat more than 12 years ago and is currently campaigning across India in a bid to convert his local success to a victory on the national stage. Recent opinion polls have put him in the lead, though it is unclear if he can hold this level of support until May, when the elections are due.
On Thursday, senior BJP figures downplayed the meeting with Powell, indicating some wariness about any perceived US endorsement. Senior BJP figures havedownplayed the meeting with Powell, indicating some wariness about any perceived US endorsement.
"It is nothing special. It's just what all the diplomats do to be in touch with the economic and political leadership of the country. It is somehow a recognition that Modi is going to be the next prime minister of the country but it is Indian voters who are going to decide that," said Meenakshi Lekhi, national spokesperson of the BJP. "It is nothing special. It's just what all the diplomats do to be in touch with the economic and political leadership of the country. It is somehow a recognition that Modi is going to be the next prime minister of the country but it is Indian voters who are going to decide that," said Meenakshi Lekhi, national spokeswoman for the BJP.
Indian relations with the US have been rocky recently. A row over the arrest of a diplomat in New York on charges of visa fraud prompted much popular anger and outrage – some genuine – among politicians.Indian relations with the US have been rocky recently. A row over the arrest of a diplomat in New York on charges of visa fraud prompted much popular anger and outrage – some genuine – among politicians.
The boycott of Modi follows charges that, when chief minister in 2002, he allowed or even encouraged mobs to attack Muslims in towns across Gujarat after a lethal fire, supposedly started by Muslims, on a train full of Hindu pilgrims. More than a thousand people died in the violence and many more were forced from their homes. Modi denies any wrongdoing and a supreme court inquiry found no evidence to prosecute him.The boycott of Modi follows charges that, when chief minister in 2002, he allowed or even encouraged mobs to attack Muslims in towns across Gujarat after a lethal fire, supposedly started by Muslims, on a train full of Hindu pilgrims. More than a thousand people died in the violence and many more were forced from their homes. Modi denies any wrongdoing and a supreme court inquiry found no evidence to prosecute him.
The Gujarat riots led to a de facto travel ban imposed on Modi by the UK, the US and some European nations, as well as the boycott by senior officials. In 2005, Modi was refused a US visa as someone held responsible for a serious violation of religious freedom.The Gujarat riots led to a de facto travel ban imposed on Modi by the UK, the US and some European nations, as well as the boycott by senior officials. In 2005, Modi was refused a US visa as someone held responsible for a serious violation of religious freedom.
Last year Britain ended a 10-year diplomatic boycott imposed on Modi, prompting scathing criticism from some Indian commentators who accused British politicians of seeking to ingratiate themselves with a potential leader of the country. Last year Britain ended a 10-year diplomatic boycott imposed on Modi, prompting scathing criticism from some Indian commentators, who accused British politicians of seeking to ingratiate themselves with a potential leader of the country.
Many in India, including some of the country's most powerful industrialists, say Modi is an effective, honest administrator with ambitions and vision who, having boosted growth in his own state, would reinvigorate India's flagging economy.Many in India, including some of the country's most powerful industrialists, say Modi is an effective, honest administrator with ambitions and vision who, having boosted growth in his own state, would reinvigorate India's flagging economy.
Recent rallies held by Modi have drawn huge crowds, with the Congress party –in power since 2004 – seemingly unable to effectively counter his campaign message that India needs a change. Recent rallies held by Modi have drawn huge crowds, with the Congress party – in power since 2004 – seemingly unable to effectively counter his campaign message that India needs a change.
BJP officials said on Thursday that the US first approached Modi's office with a request for a meeting over six weeks ago but the "timing was bad", with India and Washington locked in the row over the fate of the arrested diplomat. BJP officials said that the US first approached Modi's office with a request for a meeting over six weeks ago but the "timing was bad", with India and Washington locked in the row over the fate of the arrested diplomat.
However, with tempers now calmer it was decided that the meeting could go ahead, they said.However, with tempers now calmer it was decided that the meeting could go ahead, they said.
"There was no urgency on the part of the BJP for this. There's a sense of eerie inevitability about it. Diplomats don't work in isolation and the context at the moment favours Modi. It's more for the US to explain than for him or his aides," said Swapan Dasgupta, an Indian political commentator and onetime media adviser for the BJP. "There was no urgency on the part of the BJP for this. There's a sense of eerie inevitability about it. Diplomats don't work in isolation and the context at the moment favours Modi. It's more for the US to explain than for him or his aides," said Swapan Dasgupta, an Indian political commentator who is known to be close to the BJP.
Modi has considerable support among the Indian diaspora in the US. The US consul general in India met Modi two years ago, and Republican lawmakers recently visited Gujarat and invited him to the United States. However, the US state department has not moved to reconsider its stance on the visa. Modi has considerable support among the Indian diaspora in the US. The US consul general in India met Modi two years ago, and Republican politicians recently visited Gujarat and invited him to the United States. However, the US state department has yet to reconsider its stance on the visa.
In January, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government agency which recommended that a visa be denied to Modi in 2005, told Reuters it had not changed its position. In January, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a government agency which recommended that a visa be denied to Modi in 2005, said it had not changed its position.
Powell will travel to Gujarat's capital, Gandhinagar, to meet Modi in his office, an aide of the candidate told Reuters. Powell will travel to Gujarat's capital, Gandhinagar, to meet Modi in his office, an aide said.
It was not clear what would be discussed, but the meeting could happen on Thursday or Friday, a Gujarat official said. It was not clear what would be discussed, but the meeting could happen on Thursday or Friday.
The new warming of relations is unlikely to have much influence on a bitter and noisy election battle, however.The new warming of relations is unlikely to have much influence on a bitter and noisy election battle, however.
Rahul Gandhi, the 43-year-old scion of India's first political family, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, is leading the Congress campaign.Rahul Gandhi, the 43-year-old scion of India's first political family, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, is leading the Congress campaign.
Gandhi, with his political pedigree, privileged upbringing and distaste for public speaking, is very different from Modi, who is the son of a tea seller and known as one of the country's best performers at the rallies which are a key part of campaigning. Gandhi, a Cambridge graduate and former management consultant, is a mediocre public speaker who has, until very recently, shunned the media. Gandhi, with his political pedigree, privileged upbringing and distaste for public speaking, is very different from Modi, who is the son of a tea seller and known as one of the country's best performers at the rallies that are a key part of campaigning. Gandhi, a Cambridge graduate and former management consultant, is a mediocre public speaker who has, until very recently, shunned the media.
Analysts expect another coalition government though, and it is possible that Congress or a "third front" could scrape together an unstable alliance with the requisite seats in the national assembly to take power. Even in the event of a significant BJP win, Modi may not be able to lead a coalition government because many other politicians, whether within his party or independent, are wary of his strong leadership style.Analysts expect another coalition government though, and it is possible that Congress or a "third front" could scrape together an unstable alliance with the requisite seats in the national assembly to take power. Even in the event of a significant BJP win, Modi may not be able to lead a coalition government because many other politicians, whether within his party or independent, are wary of his strong leadership style.