As Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi faces discontent within his party, the denial of a visa to him by the United States has given the opposition Congress in the state a shot in the arm.
Modi was to pay a five-day visit to the US from March 20.
The US has said its decision to deny a visa to Modi was based on the findings of the National Human Rights Commission that his state administration "failed" to control "persistent violations of rights."
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Leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Arjun Modhvadia, on Friday charged the chief minister of linking a personal crisis with a threat to India's sovereignty. He advised Modi to do some soul searching to find out why so many people are turning against him -- with.
"Why does the chief minister always have to include Gujarat or India into a personal problem," Modhvadia asked.
Reacting to the denial of visa on Friday, Modi had said it was an insult to the Indian Constitution and a challenge to the country's sovereignty.
"I fail to understand how a visa rejection has affected India's sovereignty. In fact, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre did everything required to ensure that Modi got the US diplomatic visa," Modhvadia said.
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Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, expectedly, has condemned the denial of visa to its leader.
BJP state unit general secretary Jayanti Barot said the party will take to the streets in the next few days and organise protest programmes against the US stand.
The US decision, meanwhile, evoked mixed response from the people of Gujarat. While some said Modi is trying to gain political mileage from the US decision, others saw it as a sad development.
Nirav Pandya, an employee of a nationalised bank, said: "I do not think the decision will affect Gujaratis travelling to the US. The chief minister should take care of his responsibilities for the state than think about the US visa. This is nothing but a new political gimmick."
Also see: US says decision based on NHRC's findings
Ramesh Patel, a graphic designer, shared the view. "He is attempting to put behind the discontent within the BJP that has come out in the open. I do not think Gujaratis settled in the US, or those attempting to go there, will be affected," he said.
