On the night of Narendra Modi‘s thumping win, Veerappa Moily decided to further expose the intellectual bankruptcy of the Congress. Appearing on a CNN-IBN show hosted by Sagarika Ghose, the former Karnataka chief minister, quoting a newspaper report, said Modi had hired a Washington-based image consulting firm called Apco Worldwide, that had previously burnished the image of assorted dictators around the world.
Moily recounted the story, published exactly 36 days earlier, with great glee. That Apco had a record of boosting the images of corrupt African and Russian leaders who had fallen out of favour with their followers. That Modi’s government was paying $25,000 (approximately Rs 10 lakh) a month for the job. That Apco’s brief was to build and sell Brand Gujarat to the outside world, but any help in making Modi look better wouldn’t go unappreciated.
With which part Moily had a problem is obvious. But a juicy rumour now doing the rounds in Delhi is that India’s best known “image management and communications consulting firm”, run by a former journalist, too was in the running for the Modi account. But the firm backed out when it realised that, among other things, it was also required to polish Modi’s image to such an extent that it would pave the way for a United States visa for Modi.
Now, as everybody and his uncle knows, Modi’s US B1/B2 (tourist/visitor) visa was revoked in 2005 “for alleged violation of religious freedom”. His request for a diplomatic visa too was turned down. Modi said the United States had “insulted” India, and the Manmohan Singh government said the move was “uncalled for”, and that it displayed a “lack of courtesy and sensitivity towards a constitutionally elected chief minister.”
Questions: With Modi re-elected, should the United States revoke the revocation of his visa? Has anything materially changed in Modi’s standing from a legal and diplomatic point of view through his reelection for his visa to be restored? When scores of dubious leaders manage to get into the US, should Modi, with the backing of “five crore Gujarati people”, be blocked? Should Modi be bothered about a US visa at all? Can an image management firm pave the way for a US visa for a politician with a documented record of blood on his hands, when ordinary Indians sweat and toil for it? Will human rights activists succeed in blocking a US visa? Or will Gujarati NRIs succeed?
Photograph: courtesy NDTV
Chrumuri, enough of this obsession with Modi, Moditwa, Modi Madness, Modi Magic, Modi Mischief, Modi Menace . . ..
Modi will go to US/UK only on Diplomatic Visa. He will never visit on Tourist/Business Visa. The world is now more than interested to do business with Modi. Here is a piece by veteran K.P.Nayar:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071226/jsp/opinion/story_8707952.jsp
Few words on Modi’s US Visa issue: Two Visas involved: Diplomatic Visa and Visitor/Business Visa.
Diplomatic Visa:
Modi applied for “Diplomatic Visa” thro’ Ministry of External Affairs (all Diplomatic Visas are handled by MEA) which was rejected by US Govt. This more of a slap on GOI as its they who forwarded it to US Consulate.
I distinctly remember veteran Jyoti Basu condemned US Govt’s action – probably only time he agreed with Modi’s outrage. CPI, every party condemned it. GOI condemned it as well (inside Parliament, if my memory serves correctly).
Tourist/Business Visa:
Shri Modi had a Tourist/Business Visa which was cancelled as well. MEA requested that the Department of State review the decision to revoke his tourist/business visa. Upon review, the State Department re-affirmed the original decision.
Mulford’s full statement can be found here:
http://www.state.gov/p/sca/rls/rm/2005/43701.htm
Appointment of Image Building Firm:
I don’t see what is the confusion here. Moily is a veteran politician, but at least Indian middle class now knows “Consulting Firms” are regularly used all over the world to further ’cause’. Governments, individuals, political groups, Business groups from India, China, Pakistan, West…….all use them on a regular basis. What Modi did by appointing the image building firm is only rational, and way forward.
Most probably, Moily wanted to play to the gallery of non-urban voters who are not aware of these things. But he chose the wrong place (NDTV, CNN-IBN) as its viewers are predominantly urban middle class.
Churmuri is lying when it says “a documented record of blood on his hands”. If there was any such thing, do you think Congress would have kept quiet so far?
Anyways, Modi need not try getting a US visa. He will get it when the US companies realize that they are missing out on investing in Gujarat.
Good points from Pulikeshi and Chetan. Get over with this Modi. He won.
As to US visa, if past is any indication, USA is very loyal to money. They know how to conviniently ‘spin’ and issue him visa if needed.
“Modi’s US B1/B2 (tourist/visitor) visa was revoked in 2005 “for alleged violation of religious freedom”. ”
Getting elected does not wipe clean his record of Human/Minority Right violations. Thousands of cases against him and his supporters are still pending in the court of laws. Was Tehelka expose not enough to prove his complicity in killing of thousands of innocent Gujarati Muslims enough?
I believe in India’s judiciary; although delayed eventually justice will be served.
There is no reason to restore his visa at this time.
To hell wih USA. Modi will now look into the socalled underdeveloped 25% of Gujarat the media and the congress were bloating about. He will make it 99% developed area in Gujarat before the next elections and leave 1% for the media and the congress to talk about! Good luck Gujarat, and well done.
Photograph: courtesy NDTV!!!!!!!!?
Why do you want to insult NDTV?
Churmuri,
Get over it man….if you had even a ounce of brain, this should not have been a article on your blog. Remember how Modi circumvented the US Go vernments ban on Visa and gave speech to the Motel Owners Association through a televised speech to Florida…
Modi rocks while churmuri conitnues to whine about Modi
I am tired of Modi bashing. For all the crap that churumuri spews on Modi, it projects NDTV/CNN-IBN as the Fall Guy.
Seriously Churumuri, get your head from “you know where” and start being more rational. And also ask yourself, who gives a damn if Modi gets a Visa? Is he not getting a visa a consolation prize for Modi baiters?
Why are our macho keyboard artists so antsy about Modi? Behind a positive science story on the mind of a winner (regular stuff in the US media), they see a plot to defame him. Behind a legitimate story on whether the future face of BJP should get a US visa, they see Modi-bashing. What’s their beef? Who are they trying to kid by pretending all the questions have been answered because Modi has won? For those who don’t like probing questions that contests their closely held beliefs, heres’s my two-cent: get the hell out of here so that the rest of us have a decent debate without name-calling.
Whether Modi gets a visa to go to US or not, comrades from Bengal will certainly get a Chinese visa, irrespective of the number of graves and skeletons found in Nandigram. On the recommendation of the Chinese govt., US will also grant a visa to comrades.
Even withoug visiting Modi can do the best things for his State. It is his duty. So many ministers and MLAs have gone on foreign jaunts, study tours etc what is the outcome. Don;t worry too much about it. Moily has to save his face after Madams parties defeat. He is a learned man. He too was the Chief minister of a state. He knows the trade secrets.
Bill Gates and his foundation are listed as clients of Apco Worldwide. Hmm…
@Prashant, congratulations for stepping out of your anonymity!
Regardless of whatever spin the boors put on it, the revocation of the visa, whether right or wrong, could only have been deeply embarrassing. Even a nurse or carpenter who gets turned down feels mighty embarrassed. But embarrassment is an emotion felt only by humans. Since Modi is only short of divinity in the eyes of the devout, I suppose he didn’t feel the ignominy of being excluded, a disgrace he has heaped on millions.
The US should certainly reissue a visa to Modi but only after it is sure that he is exonerated of any complicity in the 2002 pogrom. The more the Hindutwits (economist Ashok Desai’s apt moniker, Commutwits being the other) think the election result is a “green card”, they will find it hard to do so. They need to convincingly prove their leader’s innocence. It’s both a legal battle and a public relations exercise. But if Modi keeps putting both his feet in the mouth, like his justification of the Sohrabuddin “encounter”, he will have a hard time. And if his supporters think that shouting down those who disagree with them or shutting the debate is the answer, they have another think coming.
Then again, the only thing that god’s own country, which has its own pogroms across the world, loves is the colour of money. So hiring Apco might be a masterstroke but a desperate masterstroke if securing a visa for a Chief Minister is one of the requirements.
Modi will remain unfazed and to all those involved in Modi bashing he will ony say after the line of the popular film;Honey, I shrunk the kids
No need for the US to consider visa for Modi. Now some people want to “remove” Modi from his own place!
“Only the sudden removal of Narendra Modi can stop this. For he is the agent forcing this change. And whilst he’s with us, he will do just that.”
‘Modification’ of politics- Karan Thapar
Hindustan Times, December 29, 2007
verybleedingheart says: “Only the sudden removal of Narendra Modi can stop this. For he is the agent forcing this change. And whilst he’s with us, he will do just that.”
I read that article too and was amazed by the tone of his post. He is literally calling for the assasination of Modi. I was amazed to read this. Shouldnt Karan Thapar get a thappad? I emailed the editor of HT strongly rebuking this article.
This blog should drop Modi topic for a few days. He should be ashemed that he was not considered an appropriate person to enter into USA. USA should not reconsider the matter until he tempers his attitude. As far as the some of the Hindutva protagonists who make comments sitting at a distance, they should consider their position in their adopted country and perhaps join Modi in Gujarat in his crusade.
Hoysala>>USA should not reconsider the matter until he tempers his attitude.
Modi is most popular foreign leader in Israel, USA’s closest ally. As we also know, Israel has a massive clout in the world affairs thro’ Jewish dispora. Most powerful Jeiwsh body in the world – American Jewish Committee work(ed) in many ways with Indian groups in USA who hail Modi as hero. American Companies, multinational companies are investing heavily in Gujarat, attending meetings arranged by Modi.
Henry Kissinger, the demi-God of world strategic interest candidly accepted that “Jihad, not China, behind ties with India” during his last visit to India : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071102/asp/frontpage/story_8502794.asp
Considering all these, ONE IS LIVING IN FOOLS PARADISE IF HE BELIEVES, USA ADMINISTRATION IS OPPOSED TO MODI. Denial of his “Diplomatic Visa” was a slap on GOI’s face more than Modi. Denial of Visa was a coup by Christian and Muslim groups in the USA. Geopolitics however will make sure Modi will come out of his ‘paraiah’ status sonner, because he was never a paraiah.
***
I would just one thing here:
Till 1991 (downfall of USSR ), Communists were denied Visa to visit USA as a state policy. One had to declare whether he was associated with Communist ideology and were automatically declined Visa.
If “denial of USA Visa” were the real issue, why Indian Psuedo Press is not talking about Communists? We have Karat & Co who supporting UPA, but were always denied visa.
***
Only the sudden removal of Narendra Modi can stop this. For he is the agent forcing this change. And whilst he’s with us, he will do just that.”
It shows psuedos are loosing battle of ideas. Its highly highly condemnable.
Salman Rushdie once opined: Once an idea is out, there is no way it can be put under wraps.
God forbid, if something happens to Modi, BJP will get single majority of its own.
Several decades ago, J.B.S. Haldane, the famous British scientist who chose to live in India, was refused visa to US, because of his left leanings. In the recent years, Prof. Govardhan Mehta (IISc) and Dr. Chidambaram (ex-BARC) were also denied visa to US. Are they ashamed and in anyway related to Modi? Of all the countries, US should “exonerate” Modi! Since when is US the arbiter of Indian law and justice? US did not sign the UN declaration of universal human rights.
Whatever the ostensible demeanor, the fact of the matter is, Modi won. We just need to accept that reality no matter how far it is from our personal views. Another similar gospel truth is that, USA, the defacto and, the sole super-power of the world is very important to India and Indian polity. So ‘who needs USA’ chants ring hollow. Just look at how, Indian politicians line up at potential chances to help the US’s needs (cutting across party lines) — from profferring India as a base to launch Afghan offensive to the Nuclear deal. And rightly so. With an ever swelling NRI community, non governmental groups ranging from philanthropic organizations to Bollywood have USA high on their sights.
India would be foolish to say it does not need USA for umpteen of it’s initiatives. Similarly, a growing reality is that, USA needs India.
With the above context being the reality and the very fact that our nation is debating Modi’s US visa, it is an important topic. So thanks to Churumuri for starting a discussion here about it, than ignoring it.
USA should give Modi the option to come and visit. They allowed Ahmadinejad for god’s sake ! But like the Iranian, Modi should also be drawn into an open discussion about his role in the pogrom..
About JBS Haldane: He was not simply leftward leading scientist, but was a sympathiser of the CND ( Compaign for Nuclear Disarmament) which in the cold war period was reputed to be funded by the Soviet Union as a protest movement in Britain and around The English-speaking Western countries whose purpose was to oppose the nuclear weapon technology development by the West with the purpose of slowing down the research so that it can happily develop nuclear war heads to acquire weapons superiority.
Ahmadinejad as the president of Iran is an important leader who can make a difference in the balance of power in the Middle East. He was visiting UN to give an address as a head of State. Like USA gave Kruschev the Visa during the cold war days. About Modi: he is not a leader in the international however much he may shout and rant. If he becomes the PM of India, then it is a different matter.
Verybleedingheart>> Since when is US the arbiter of Indian law and justice?
You are the ONLY person who raised this question. Thanks
Most funny thing is: So called “Left-lib” journos who bash USA all the time, want “independent foreign policy” (meaning no strategic relationship with USA) talked about denial of US visa to Modi in NDTV.
Jyoti Basu may be following wrong ideology, but has a legendary sense to understand peoples pulse. He said when Modi was denied US visa: Since when USA started replacing Indian Judicial system? Modi will be tried in India.
All these show, socalled Indian English Press is full of people who neither understand Intenational law, or issues.
He was important enough for the US to cancel his visa. He may not be an international leader, but as a Gujrati, he has a massive exposure(good/bad) to the huge expat Gujju community. It’s no secret that come elections, the NRIs contribute, quite impressively at that, to the candidates on the stump…
What does a US visa prove? Nothing!
If Zhang Zemin and his coterie can get US visas in spite of Tiannanmen Massacre, the so-called ‘architect’ of Gujarat ‘pogrom’ also needs to be given a US visa!
Many convicted politicians with real charges – corruption, murder, rape etc visit US and Europe with ease.
Mr Mody is simply “suspect” in the eyes of the (sic) “secular” media – nothing has been proved against him despite an all out effort of the anti-Hindu forces in India. Why should he denied a visa ?
Ah, but this is India, where the good must suffer and the bad can lord it over all of us. Afterall we live in the land of Yudhisthir and Duryodhan ! Everyone knows who suffered the most between those two !
DB,
Going to US mean not much these days at least in our neighbourhood in Mysore.. Once upon a time I was the only one in our Mohalla who went to US and worked there. Now from our street of about 80 houses, young men and women in 50 of them have gone to US and are working. Two youngmen came back on a holiday bringing with them white American girl friends and no curiosity either from other residents. The parents brandish wads of green bills now and then, no one notices them.
Modi should set his mind at rest , forget US visa or try to go to Italy or France. He will have opportunities to see the work of the great Michaelangelo in Florence and in Rome for example, opportunity to ride the TGV and experience travelling through the channel tunnel etc..
Zhang Zemin with is country holding i) the largest dollar reserve in the world ii) key player for anything to do with North Korea and more importantly Iran iii) consuming the lion’s share of steel and oil will be listened with respect by the leader of the free world. His excellency Zemin has the power to ruin the US economy and mess up Bush’s plan in the Middle East or for that matter in any part in the world
Sure Zemin will be listened to respectfully by Bush just as Nixon and Kissinger listened to Chairman Mao when they visited him clandestinely in 1960s. With China’s military might and the huge market meant that mandarin has replaced Russian, German and French as preferred foreign language in the universities in Western countries.
THIS IS VERY FUNNY.
AFTER MODI WON THE POLLS HIS SUPPORTERS SAY HE HAS BEEN VINICATED AND NOW THEY CLAMOUR FOR US VISA AS IF A WESTERN VISA IS THE FINAL VINDICATION OF HIS INNOCENCE.
THIS IS TYPICAL HINDUTVA MINDSET – LOOKING FOR SEAL OF APPROVAL/VINDICATION FROM THE WEST.
WHAT A PATHETIC LOT!
Going by the standards and canard of Churumuri, Modi should be banished from USA visa for ten life times
Alas! There’s some political outfit who still recognizes the fact that Modi’s administration has committed human rights abuses.
A few basic questions….
Does chief minister of Kashmir blamed for kashmiri pundits migration? Does chief minister of meghalaya blamed for more than 95% christian conversion? Does chief minister of Bihar blamed for So many so called “Human Rights” Violations? Then why Modi is always blamed for “Godhra Riots”?
And why it is so much hyped by media by blaming him all the time? From the day one, he came to the chief minister seat, his agenda was to development and growth of state and as a gujarati we have seen that.
Riots was the public anger. I stayed in Gujarat I know. Every Gujarati supported and also gave all freedom to rioters to burn houses and hotels. Police was unable to do anything because it was public anger.
BRIEFLY INDIAN MEDIA IS RESPONSIBLE TO SHOW ALL THOSE STORIES BEHIND PROVOKING PEOPLE. BUT WHY NOBODY BLAMES THEM?
And That is none of US Government’s business to deny visa of modi based on charges which are not yet proved. I don’t know why even muslims and christians started blaming along with everyone.
MY INTENTION BEHIND THIS NOTE IS, DON’T CONCLUDE BEFORE YOU DON’T FULLY ANALYZE SITUATION. YES WE HATE FANATICS OF ISLAM WHO ALWAYS CRY FOR SO CALLED “JUSTICE” WITH CONGRESS BACK.
for your kind information, We have seen Big Hoardings from congress “Muslims has first right on National Assets”
I trust your intelligence and analyze yourself.