Paan Singh
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Ahmedabad: After Europe embraced him, the United States of America seems to have also come around to appreciate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modis style of governance. A US Congress delegation on Thursday invited Modi to visit their country effectively ending Washingtons long standing aversion to the man who is being dubbed as one of the most serious contender to be Prime Minister of India in 2014.
A report quoting a member of the delegation said that Narendra Modi has been invited to visit US as they like his motto on 'minimum government maximum governance'. The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was referred to as a very dynamic leader, the report added.
The 18-member delegation, led by Republican Congressmen from Illinois Aaron Schock, met Modi at his official residence today afternoon, following their visit to Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram and held over an hour-long closed-door meeting with him and high ranking state officials.
Following the post-Godhra riots in 2002, the Unites States in 2005 had denied diplomatic visa to Modi and also revoked his already granted B-1/B-2 visa, under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act which makes any foreign government official who was responsible or "directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for the visa.
The change in US position comes shortly after the United Kingdom - which had also refused to deal with Narendra Modi - changed this policy in October 2012. Similarly, the European Union has also ended over a decade-old boycott of Modi in 2012 by delinking his image from any human rights issues.
The US Congress and business delegations has been trip organised in conjunction with the National Indian American Public Policy Institute will also feature meetings with Indian government officials, MPs and business leaders.
While welcoming the US delegation, Modi spoke about the fast and inclusive, environment-friendly process of development in Gujarat, an official statement issued here said. "With hard work, we have been able to create an impact in the country," Modi said.
During the interaction, Schock pointed out that the people in US were keen to work with Gujarat and that they were impressed by the way the state has facilitated investment. As per the official press release Schock state that there was enormous potential to work together with Gujarat.
It may be recalled that following Modi's fourth consecutive victory in the 2012 Assembly Elections Schock had made a statement, congratulating Modi, on the floor of the US House of Representatives.
Business sector representatives in the delegation has been led by Illinois-based Punjabi NRI businessman and Overseas Friends of BJP member Shalabh Kumar. Other US Parliamentarians in the delegation included Cynthia Lummis (Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming) and Cathy M Rodgers (Republican Congresswoman from Washington state).
In his address to the delegation, Modi urged the need for humanitarian forces coming together and fight terrorism along with other challenges of poverty and unemployment.
Emphasising the need to strengthen the democratic processes keeping in mind the larger good of people, Modi also talked about ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
"Mahatma Gandhi has been and is the biggest light-house in this journey and Gujarat being the land of Gandhi believes in these principles. It has been in the forefront in nurturing such ideals and leading its people on the path of growth," he told the delegation as per the official statement.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited the Akshardham temple, a popular Swaminarayan temple here. Ater a luncheon meeting with the Mayor of Ahmedabad Asit Vora, the delegation is scheduled to experience a ride in the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS).
During their two day stay in Gujarat, the US delegation is also planning to visit Tata Nano manufacturing plant in Sanand, Ahmedabad and Gujarat International Finance Tec-city (GIFT).
In addition to Gujarat, the visiting delegation will visit Bangalore, Tirupati, New Delhi, Agra, Udaipur, Jaipur and Amritsar. The delegation will meet the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, senior BJP leader L K Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh.
America opens its gates for
A report quoting a member of the delegation said that Narendra Modi has been invited to visit US as they like his motto on 'minimum government maximum governance'. The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was referred to as a very dynamic leader, the report added.
The 18-member delegation, led by Republican Congressmen from Illinois Aaron Schock, met Modi at his official residence today afternoon, following their visit to Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram and held over an hour-long closed-door meeting with him and high ranking state officials.
Following the post-Godhra riots in 2002, the Unites States in 2005 had denied diplomatic visa to Modi and also revoked his already granted B-1/B-2 visa, under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act which makes any foreign government official who was responsible or "directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom" ineligible for the visa.
The change in US position comes shortly after the United Kingdom - which had also refused to deal with Narendra Modi - changed this policy in October 2012. Similarly, the European Union has also ended over a decade-old boycott of Modi in 2012 by delinking his image from any human rights issues.
The US Congress and business delegations has been trip organised in conjunction with the National Indian American Public Policy Institute will also feature meetings with Indian government officials, MPs and business leaders.
While welcoming the US delegation, Modi spoke about the fast and inclusive, environment-friendly process of development in Gujarat, an official statement issued here said. "With hard work, we have been able to create an impact in the country," Modi said.
During the interaction, Schock pointed out that the people in US were keen to work with Gujarat and that they were impressed by the way the state has facilitated investment. As per the official press release Schock state that there was enormous potential to work together with Gujarat.
It may be recalled that following Modi's fourth consecutive victory in the 2012 Assembly Elections Schock had made a statement, congratulating Modi, on the floor of the US House of Representatives.
Business sector representatives in the delegation has been led by Illinois-based Punjabi NRI businessman and Overseas Friends of BJP member Shalabh Kumar. Other US Parliamentarians in the delegation included Cynthia Lummis (Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming) and Cathy M Rodgers (Republican Congresswoman from Washington state).
In his address to the delegation, Modi urged the need for humanitarian forces coming together and fight terrorism along with other challenges of poverty and unemployment.
Emphasising the need to strengthen the democratic processes keeping in mind the larger good of people, Modi also talked about ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
"Mahatma Gandhi has been and is the biggest light-house in this journey and Gujarat being the land of Gandhi believes in these principles. It has been in the forefront in nurturing such ideals and leading its people on the path of growth," he told the delegation as per the official statement.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited the Akshardham temple, a popular Swaminarayan temple here. Ater a luncheon meeting with the Mayor of Ahmedabad Asit Vora, the delegation is scheduled to experience a ride in the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS).
During their two day stay in Gujarat, the US delegation is also planning to visit Tata Nano manufacturing plant in Sanand, Ahmedabad and Gujarat International Finance Tec-city (GIFT).
In addition to Gujarat, the visiting delegation will visit Bangalore, Tirupati, New Delhi, Agra, Udaipur, Jaipur and Amritsar. The delegation will meet the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, senior BJP leader L K Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh.
America opens its gates for
