In a significant declaration, a body seeking the denial of US visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has claimed growing support for its cause among the American lawmakers on the Capitol Hill.
The Coalition Against Genocide (CAG), an umbrella body of several Indian-American organizations seeking justice for the victims of the Gujarat riots in 2002, claimed that Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania Joseph Pitts and 26 of his colleagues had sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice seeking the denial of visa to the Chief Minister. "Mr Modi and his administration closed the files on over 2,000 police cases where the victims filed reports of rapes, killings and destruction of their property," the lawmakers were quoted as saying in a statement issued by the CAG.
In the statement, the lawmakers alleged "serious human rights violations, persecution of minorities" in direct contravention of International Human Rights norms and treaties by the BJP government in Gujarat."We are deeply concerned that a visit to the United States by Chief Minister Modi is in violation of the International Religious Freedom Act and will provide tacit approval of his reprehensible statements, policies and actions that violate the core of the fundamental human rights upon which our nation is founded," the statement said.
It urged the US government to condemn his actions and policies by "denying him the right to enter our country" to attend the World Gujarati Conference in New Jersey from August 29. The CAG includes a diverse spectrum of organizations and individuals in the US and Canada that have come together in response to the 2002 Gujarat riots to demand accountability and justice.
Show/Hide comments
