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U.S. envoy meets controversial Indian leader U.S. envoy meets controversial Indian leader
(about 5 hours later)
NEW DELHI — After nine years in a diplomatic standoff, the U.S. government's envoy in India on Thursday met with Narendra Modi, a controversial Hindu politician who could be India’s next prime minister if his party wins in the national election this year. NEW DELHI — The U.S. government's envoy in India ended a nine-year diplomatic standoff on Thursday by meeting with Narendra Modi, a controversial Hindu politician who could be India’s next prime minister if his party wins in the national election this year.
The U.S. government had kept Modi at an arm’s length and even declined to give him a visa because of his alleged role in fanning religious rioting in 2002. But Modi’s rising domestic popularity in the run up to this year’s national elections appears to have forced a thaw in one of the most keenly watched diplomatic relationships here. Washington had kept Modi at arm’s length, declining to give him a visa to visit the United States because of his alleged role in fanning religious riots in 2002. But Modi’s rising domestic popularity in the runup to national elections appears to have forced a thaw his relations with the United States.
The hour-long meeting between U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy Powell and Modi, the business-friendly chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, made headline news in India, and many here hailed it as a key stamp of endorsement for one of India’s most polarizing politicians in recent years. The hour-long meeting between Ambassador Nancy Powell and Modi, the business-friendly chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, made headlines in India. Many hailed it as a key stamp of approval for one of India’s most polarizing politicians.
A statement from the U.S. embassy in New Delhi on Thursday said that Powell’s meeting in Gandhinagar was part of its “outreach to senior leaders of India’s major political parties in advance of the upcoming national elections.”
Powell will meet American and Indian businesses and non-governmental groups during her visit to Gujarat, the statement said, and will focus on discussing bilateral ties, regional security issues, human rights and trade.
The Times of India on Wednesday called it the end of the “9-year cold war.”The Times of India on Wednesday called it the end of the “9-year cold war.”
Even though Modi has won three back-to-back elections in Gujarat, the stigma of his alleged complicity in the deadly Hindu-Muslim riots that left hundreds of Muslims dead 11 years ago continued to plague him. Global human rights groups said that Modi had looked the other way while angry mobs targeted Muslims in reprisal attacks after 58 Hindu pilgrims and activists died in a train fire that Muslims were suspected of starting. A statement from the U.S. Embassy said the meeting was part of Powell’s “outreach to senior leaders of India’s major political parties in advance of the upcoming national elections.”
But even as legal cases against the 63-year old Modi piled up in the past decade, he carefully crafted for himself an image of a pro-business modernizer drawing international companies like Ford, General Motors and Suzuki to set up factories in Gujarat. As foreign investors praised Modi for delivering impressive economic growth in his state, Western governments had to slowly shed their unease too. Britain began to re-engage with Modi in November 2012, a move quickly followed by other European nations. The ambassador will meet U.S. and Indian businesses and non-governmental groups during her visit to Gujarat to discuss bilateral ties, regional security issues, human rights and trade, the statement said.
But ending his pariah status with the U.S. did not come easily. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said he was a violator of religious freedom and advised in 2012 that the he not be issued a visa. Even though Modi has won three consecutive elections, the stigma of his alleged complicity in the deadly Hindu-Muslim riots that left hundreds of Muslims dead 11 years ago continues to plague him. Global human rights groups said that Modi had looked the other way while angry mobs targeted Muslims in reprisal attacks after 58 Hindu pilgrims and activists died in a train fire that Muslims were suspected of starting.
But Modi got legal relief last year when India’s Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team absolved Modi of any wrongdoing in the riots, and a lower court in Gujarat upheld it. But even as legal cases against the 63-year old politician piled up, he carefully crafted for himself an image of a pro-business modernizer drawing international companies like Ford, General Motors and Suzuki to set up factories in Gujarat. As foreign investors praised Modi for delivering impressive economic growth in his state, Western governments had to slowly shed their unease. Britain re-engaged with Modi in November 2012, a move quickly followed by other European nations. But ending his pariah status with the United States took longer. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom asked in 2012 that the he not be issued a visa.
The first sign of softening from the U.S. came last year when a delegation of members of the U.S. Congress from Illinois, Wyoming and Washington state met Modi in Gujarat. Last year, India’s Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team absolved Modi of any wrongdoing in the riots, and a lower court in Gujarat upheld the ruling. A Congressional delegation of lawmakers from Illinois, Wyoming and Washington state then met Modi in Gujarat.
Political analysts here said that the standoff was no longer tenable for the United States.
“How long could the United States government continue this standoff? Modi is an important democratically elected leader; he advocates an aggressive business-friendly model of economic growth and wants to build India as an economic counter to China,” said Manisha Priyam, the India coordinator for research on state and local elections for the London School of Economics and Political Science. “When the Indian courts cleared Modi’s name in the riots case, it just became easier for the U.S. to engage.”“How long could the United States government continue this standoff? Modi is an important democratically elected leader; he advocates an aggressive business-friendly model of economic growth and wants to build India as an economic counter to China,” said Manisha Priyam, the India coordinator for research on state and local elections for the London School of Economics and Political Science. “When the Indian courts cleared Modi’s name in the riots case, it just became easier for the U.S. to engage.”
But the U.S. government on Wednesday was quick to snuff out speculation here in India that the meeting would automatically lead to lifting of the visa ban on Modi. But the U.S. government on Wednesday was quick to snuff out speculation here in India that the meeting would automatically lead to lifting of Modi’s visa ban.
“When individuals apply for a visa, their applications are reviewed in accordance with U.S. law and policy. This is not a reflection of any change,” said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, according to the Press Trust of India. “This is simply a meeting happening on the ground in India. It’s not a reflection of anything else than outreach to a broad range of officials.”“When individuals apply for a visa, their applications are reviewed in accordance with U.S. law and policy. This is not a reflection of any change,” said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, according to the Press Trust of India. “This is simply a meeting happening on the ground in India. It’s not a reflection of anything else than outreach to a broad range of officials.”
However, Thursday’s meeting serves as a “boost of adrenalin for Modi’s election campaign in India and vindicates him in many ways,” Priyam said. Still, the sitdown serves as a “boost of adrenalin for Modi’s election campaign in India and vindicates him in many ways,” Priyam said.
Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the national opposition party now, have been leading significantly in recent opinion polls over the ruling Congress party, which is weighed down by a series of corruption allegations and runaway inflation. Modi is the son of a train station tea vendor and is facing Rahul Gandhi, 43-year old scion of the powerful political dynasty that has dominated the Congress party. Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is currently the national opposition party, have been leading significantly in recent opinion polls over the ruling Congress party, which is weighed down by a series of corruption allegations and runaway inflation.
To emphasize Modi’s humble beginnings, the BJP launched a nationwide “chat-over-tea” program with Modi at hundreds of road-side tea stalls on Wednesday where ordinary citizens could pose a question to Modi directly. Modi, the son of a train station tea vendor, is vying for power with Rahul Gandhi, 43-year old scion of the powerful political dynasty that has dominated the Congress party.
For the Congress party in India, Powell’s meeting with Modi is a political setback, analysts said. In January, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had accused Modi of presiding over tge “massacre of citizens” in 2002 and said he would be “disastrous” for India. On Wednesday, India’s foreign minister and a senior Congress party leader Salman Khurshid compared the 2002 riots to the Holocaust and said he hoped the U.S. would apply similar standards in dealing with issues of human rights. To emphasize Modi’s humble beginnings, the BJP launched a nationwide “chat-over-tea” program with the candidate on Wednesday. At hundreds of road-side tea stalls, ordinary citizens can pose questions to Modi directly.
The BJP leaders said that the meeting with Powell has come at a right time and will help Modi’s image among voters. For the Congress party in India, Powell’s meeting with Modi is a political setback, analysts said. In January, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accused Modi of presiding over the “massacre of citizens” in 2002 and said he would be “disastrous” for India if he was chosen as prime minister. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, a senior Congress party leader, compared the 2002 riots to the Holocaust and said he hoped the United States would treat Modi accordingly.
“His supporters will see that Modi did not bow down to the United States for approval,” said a senior leader in the BJP on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. “And that works well for the Indian voter sentiments.” The BJP leaders said Modi’s meeting with Powell came at the right time and will help Modi’s image among voters.
“His supporters will see that Modi did not bow down to the United States for approval,” said a senior leader in the BJP, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. “And that works well for the Indian voter sentiments.”