United States Senator, Bob Corker had contacted US Embassy in New Delhi to explore the possibility of Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister, being granted a diplomatic visa to visit the US.
The United States consulate in New Delhi has informed him that Modi is not eligible to receive a diplomatic visa.
Bob Corker is Tennessee Republican and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On the urging of his Indian American constituents, led by activist Tarun Surti of Nashville, Tennessee - one of Modi's staunchest supporters in the US - and several senior members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, the majority of whom have origins in Gujarat and are ardent fans of Modi, the US Senator consulted US embassy in New Delhi on their behalf.
Tarun Surti said, "The US embassy in Delhi informed the senator's office that such visa are reserved for federal government employees only and not available to state government officials."
Surti said, Corker's office had also been notified by "The US embassy in Delhi that it is unwilling to address the illegal revocation of Sri Narendrabhai's visa and now wants him to reapply for visa."
"He will be insulted a third time assuming that the US embassy in Delhi again rejects his visa application," Surti complained, and added, "Narendrabhai has been insulted twice before and does not need another insult."
The hierarchy of AAHOA, which had been considering inviting Modi to keynote its annual convention last week in Atlanta, Georgia, had given up on the idea, fearing that he would be embarrassed once again by being refused a visa.
Earlier, in March 2005, Modi was denied a visa for his alleged complicity in Gujarat's sectarian violence in 2002 - which left nearly 2,000 people, mainly Muslims dead - when he had applied for a visa to attend the annual convention of the AAHOA, where he was to deliver the keynote address.
Earlier, the US embassy said Modi's tourist and business visa, issued in 1998, had been revoked and he would not get a diplomatic visa either.
At the time, an angry Modi called the US decision "an insult to the Indian constitution and an attack on Indian sovereignty."
It was on their urging that last month a US lawmaker, Congressman Joe Walsh had launched a campaign to prevail on the Obama administration to grant a diplomatic visa to Modi.
Walsh, who is vulnerable in his district in the upcoming November elections and needs all the financial support he can muster as he has been targetted by Democrats as one of the most vulnerable Republicans, wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to "consider granting a diplomatic visa to Chief Minister Narendra Modi of the Indian State of Gujarat."
Surti argued, "It is wrong of US embassy to make a decision based on false allegation that is not supported by any judicial branch of India or the US. Besides, he has proven during last 10 years that he is not a monster as portrayed by the US embassy and his opponents who condone Islamic terrorists."
Surti warned, "It is time that US recognise this fact and correct its mistake before Modi becomes the next prime minister of India."
He called for "A day of fasting on October 2, 2012 by all India-American and people of India to protest the unwillingness of US embassy to correct their mistake by reinstating Modi's visa."
He said he was currently contacting community leaders "who are willing to take part in this event."
