Submitted
by admin4 on 4 December 2012 - 8:56pm
By Arun
Kumar, IANS,
Washington
: Ahead of the Gujarat elections, a bipartisan group of 25 lawmakers and the
Coalition Against Genocide have called for a continued visa ban for Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The
group, led by Republican House of Representatives members Joe Pitts and Frank
Wolf, is holding a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the House Triangle to
make the call along with family members of the victims saying he has not
adequately pursued justice for victims of the riots.
The lawmakers
have also shot off a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her to
continue denying Modi a US visa particularly since Modi is now eyeing the
office of the prime minister.
"As
... Justice has yet to be fully realised for the victims of the riots, we ask
that you continue to deny Mr Modi a visa," they said in the letter
released to the press Monday ahead of the Gujarat polls Dec 13 and 17.
As Modi
"continues to pursue a potential run for higher office, we believe a
change in policy to his request for a visa will only embolden Modi and his
government's efforts to obstruct further investigations to bring the
perpetrators to justice," they said in the Nov 29 letter.
Noting
that India is a thriving democracy, and one that is aspiring to a high standard
of leadership and progress, they said: "It is disturbing that certain
parties in India are considering elevating Modi, despite his tie to these
attacks."
"Allowing
him to enter the United States will only serve to abdicate his responsibility
for the 2002 human rights abuses," it said.
Observing
that the Bush Administration "rightly denied" Modi a visa, the
lawmakers said as he is currently seeking support for a possible bid for the
office of prime minister they expected that he may again request entry into the
US.
"We
respectfully request that the US government deny Mr Modi entry due to numerous
reports of his involvement in horrific human rights violations in India,"
they said.
The
lawmakers noted the State Department has stated that the Gujarat government has
not adequately pursued justice for the victims of the 2002 riots.
(Arun
Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
Courtesy:TCN
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