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| Narendra Modi lawsuit revisits Gujarat riots on US visit | Narendra Modi lawsuit revisits Gujarat riots on US visit |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The lawsuit charging India's Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi with crimes against humanity during the 2002 Gujarat riots was timed to cause maximum embarrassment during his five-day American charm offensive. | The lawsuit charging India's Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi with crimes against humanity during the 2002 Gujarat riots was timed to cause maximum embarrassment during his five-day American charm offensive. |
| With US officials making clear Mr Modi has immunity as a head of government while on American soil, it's likely to be little more than an irritant in the short term. | |
| If he needs any advice he could do worse than call his chief political opponent, Sonia Gandhi. | If he needs any advice he could do worse than call his chief political opponent, Sonia Gandhi. |
| The Congress party leader was targeted by the same American lawyer, under the same American statute, charged in relation to an anti-Sikh massacre in Delhi in 1984 - until that case was dismissed earlier this year. | The Congress party leader was targeted by the same American lawyer, under the same American statute, charged in relation to an anti-Sikh massacre in Delhi in 1984 - until that case was dismissed earlier this year. |
| An attempt by a British restaurant worker to arrest former Prime Minister Tony Blair for invading Iraq did little more than disrupt his meal. | An attempt by a British restaurant worker to arrest former Prime Minister Tony Blair for invading Iraq did little more than disrupt his meal. |
| Yet even if they are not an immediate legal threat, these opportunistic bids for justice have kept Mr Blair and other controversial world figures on their toes. | Yet even if they are not an immediate legal threat, these opportunistic bids for justice have kept Mr Blair and other controversial world figures on their toes. |
| For Mr Modi, it's a reminder that questions over his actions as chief minister of Gujarat during the 2002 riots haven't gone away - despite his decisive election as prime minister in May. | For Mr Modi, it's a reminder that questions over his actions as chief minister of Gujarat during the 2002 riots haven't gone away - despite his decisive election as prime minister in May. |
| While taking care not to overshadow his visit, the Indian media has still given the lawsuit respectful coverage. | While taking care not to overshadow his visit, the Indian media has still given the lawsuit respectful coverage. |
| Mr Modi is accused of turning a blind eye when Hindu mobs went on a rampage of revenge in Gujarat in 2002. | Mr Modi is accused of turning a blind eye when Hindu mobs went on a rampage of revenge in Gujarat in 2002. |
| The riots came after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was torched, killing 59 people. | The riots came after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was torched, killing 59 people. |
| More than 1,000 people eventually died in the violence - most of them Muslims. | More than 1,000 people eventually died in the violence - most of them Muslims. |
| It was for that reason the Bush Administration denied him a visa in 2005, under laws barring any government official responsible for "particularly severe violations of religions freedom". | It was for that reason the Bush Administration denied him a visa in 2005, under laws barring any government official responsible for "particularly severe violations of religions freedom". |
| Both the Obama administration and Mr Modi want to leave that controversy behind, but technically the ban still stands and he can only travel to the US because as a head of state he gets an automatic visa. | Both the Obama administration and Mr Modi want to leave that controversy behind, but technically the ban still stands and he can only travel to the US because as a head of state he gets an automatic visa. |
| Mr Modi's supporters dismiss what they call a "fake campaign" against him, pointing out that Indian courts have ruled there is insufficient evidence to prosecute him. | Mr Modi's supporters dismiss what they call a "fake campaign" against him, pointing out that Indian courts have ruled there is insufficient evidence to prosecute him. |
| But significant doubts remain over the investigations that led to that verdict. And a former Gujarat cabinet minister appointed by Mr Modi was convicted of instigating the worst single massacre during the riots. | But significant doubts remain over the investigations that led to that verdict. And a former Gujarat cabinet minister appointed by Mr Modi was convicted of instigating the worst single massacre during the riots. |
| The prime minister's Hindu nationalist background and past anti-Muslim rhetoric, together with his apparent refusal to show remorse for the bloodshed in 2002, fuel suspicions that the full truth has yet to emerge. | The prime minister's Hindu nationalist background and past anti-Muslim rhetoric, together with his apparent refusal to show remorse for the bloodshed in 2002, fuel suspicions that the full truth has yet to emerge. |
| Critics say Mr Modi has also been conspicuously silent over a spate of anti-Muslim incidents in India since becoming prime minister | Critics say Mr Modi has also been conspicuously silent over a spate of anti-Muslim incidents in India since becoming prime minister |
| His declaration in a recent CNN interview that Indian Muslims "would live for India and die for India" was seen by some as a veiled response to such criticism. | His declaration in a recent CNN interview that Indian Muslims "would live for India and die for India" was seen by some as a veiled response to such criticism. |
| But though some welcomed his remarks, many Muslims asked why they needed "a certificate of loyalty" from Mr Modi. | But though some welcomed his remarks, many Muslims asked why they needed "a certificate of loyalty" from Mr Modi. |
| And one of the few Muslim MPs in Mr Modi's ruling NDA coalition has now spoken out against what he calls "the unfettered hate being spewed" against India's Muslim minority. | And one of the few Muslim MPs in Mr Modi's ruling NDA coalition has now spoken out against what he calls "the unfettered hate being spewed" against India's Muslim minority. |
| When he was sworn in as prime minister in May, Mr Modi promised to build an India that was "inclusive". | When he was sworn in as prime minister in May, Mr Modi promised to build an India that was "inclusive". |
| But at a time when the US is trying yet again to repair ties with the Muslim world in its battle with Islamic State militants, Mr Modi may prove a controversial ally. | But at a time when the US is trying yet again to repair ties with the Muslim world in its battle with Islamic State militants, Mr Modi may prove a controversial ally. |