Recent news about 65 MPs (members of parliament) who wrote a letter to US President Mr. Barack Obama requesting him not to grant a US visa to Gujarat chief minister (CM) Mr. Narendra Modi caught my attention. I was interested in the logic behind these people's requests and why they think is US visa is so important for Modi or for any person of his stature. The copy of the letter which is circulating in media with signatures on it looks very genuine. So, if we believe the contents of this letter then their major emphasis is on the 2002 Godhra riots, and because the MPs believe that Modi was responsible for those riots the US government should not allow him to enter their own country.
The letter paints a picture of Gujarat as a most horrible place in India where minorities are butchered and raped daily. These people don't even realize that they are talking about one of the state in their own country. They consider Modi an anti-social and dangerous person, based on his human rights record they want the US to prevent his entry, but they are fine with his presence in their own country (that too as CM). If they believe and have solid proof about Modi's crimes then why is he free even in India? If his crimes are so serious and there is enough evidence about it, then he should be in jail. Why a person who these 65 lawmakers think is so dangerous and antisocial is roaming free in their own country? If they want the US to ban his entry, then why don't they criminally prosecute him in India? Do they think that in India criminals can stay, they can even rule, it's all fine, but they should not enter the US? Many questions like these should be asked to these 65 people and they should provide satisfactory answers to them or resign from their posts.
Having political or ideological differences is one thing, those differences can be debated, and discussed in civilized manure but to plead for another country to act on your behalf is a pathetic display of immaturity. I didn't expect this from these people. Another question is, why the hell does Modi need a US visa? He is the chief minister of one of the states of India, he is a democratically elected leader and holding that office for more than a decade. He can talk with anyone anywhere in the world without physically visiting that place, recent developments in communication technology have given every one of us that power and capability. So even if he wants to talk with the Indian community in the US he doesn't need to visit the US physically, he can do it right from his office in Gujarat. So, why the hell he need that visa? If US companies want to invest in Gujarat they will automatically invite him and arrange a visa for him. I am sure then there will be no question about human rights violations and other things when business and money are involved.
No government in this world has an absolutely clean record of human rights. Every country is involved somewhere directly or indirectly where human rights violations, either in their own country or on foreign soil. No one can claim high moral ground at least on this aspect alone. These people should fight against Modi politically based on valid and rational points, challenge him, and question him but please don't play a dirty game like this. I have only one request to all these people, please stop this circus and talk about more serious issues. I am sure India has many of them, whether Modi or anyone else gets any visa or not is not a big deal. We have much bigger issues to address and I expect these intelligent MPs to think about that rather than thinking about how they get some cheap media publicity.
[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing]
No government in this world has an absolutely clean record of human rights. Every country is involved somewhere directly or indirectly where human rights violations, either in their own country or on foreign soil. No one can claim high moral ground at least on this aspect alone. These people should fight against Modi politically based on valid and rational points, challenge him, and question him but please don't play a dirty game like this. I have only one request to all these people, please stop this circus and talk about more serious issues. I am sure India has many of them, whether Modi or anyone else gets any visa or not is not a big deal. We have much bigger issues to address and I expect these intelligent MPs to think about that rather than thinking about how they get some cheap media publicity.
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
Links:
1. 64 MPs urged Obama to keep visa ban for Modi
2. BJP wants US visa for Modi
2. Massive controversy breaks out over MPs' letter to Obama on Modi visa
3. Controversy breaks out over MPs letter on Modi visa
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ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone needs to request President Obama on anyone's behalf for his/her visa unless it's for medical needs or emergency reasons, US has its own policies and they decide based on their needs and plans. I feel this is unnecessary. Thanks for sharing the information.
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