Rice Cornered by Advani
Facts on Modi U.S. Visa issue had come to focus, when Leader of Opposition, L.K.Advani took up the matter with U.S.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who had called on him.
Advani said to her: He had no complaints about the U.S. not granting a visa to Narendra Modi, since that comes under the jurisdictions of the American authorities and their sovereign rights. Rather his complaint was about the fact that when Modi himself had not applied for the visa, the U.S. authorities made it an issue from their side.
Advani had conveyed to Rice that he found it difficult to accept that Modi, an elected leader in this country whose performance as the Chief Minister of Gujarat has been praised, was campaigned against by the U.S., when he did not apply for the visa.
Advani quoted Modi as having told him that he did not apply for a visa. In fact, even earlier when Modi’s U.S. visa was cancelled, it was not applied for, since he had already had a valid visa on his passport. On that occasion, though Modi had a valid visa, the U.S.authorities took a proactive decision and cancelled it shortly before he was due to leave for the U.S. on an invitation.
When Rice asked officials of the U.S.state department who accompanied her whether what Advani mentioned was the case, they confirmed Advani’s version. To that, Rice had assured Advani that she would look into Modi’s visa issue.
On hearing Rice’s assurances, Advani turned towards the external affairs ministry officials present that it was also for them to ensure that such a situation did not arise. It is a sad state of political scenario that many are viewing and acting wearing their own political glasses thereby belittling the status of our country in the world.
Advani said to her: He had no complaints about the U.S. not granting a visa to Narendra Modi, since that comes under the jurisdictions of the American authorities and their sovereign rights. Rather his complaint was about the fact that when Modi himself had not applied for the visa, the U.S. authorities made it an issue from their side.
Advani had conveyed to Rice that he found it difficult to accept that Modi, an elected leader in this country whose performance as the Chief Minister of Gujarat has been praised, was campaigned against by the U.S., when he did not apply for the visa.
Advani quoted Modi as having told him that he did not apply for a visa. In fact, even earlier when Modi’s U.S. visa was cancelled, it was not applied for, since he had already had a valid visa on his passport. On that occasion, though Modi had a valid visa, the U.S.authorities took a proactive decision and cancelled it shortly before he was due to leave for the U.S. on an invitation.
When Rice asked officials of the U.S.state department who accompanied her whether what Advani mentioned was the case, they confirmed Advani’s version. To that, Rice had assured Advani that she would look into Modi’s visa issue.
On hearing Rice’s assurances, Advani turned towards the external affairs ministry officials present that it was also for them to ensure that such a situation did not arise. It is a sad state of political scenario that many are viewing and acting wearing their own political glasses thereby belittling the status of our country in the world.
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