US can't be judgemental, should give Modi visa: Blackwill

September 01, 2013 00:11

Former United States Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill, who met Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Saturday, has said that the US should grant visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister.

"He (Modi) is a prominent political thinker in India. And, I don't believe United States is in a position, thousands of miles away, to have a magisterial opinion about what happens here in India....That's upto the Indians...," Blackwill said when asked by the reporters about US's denial of visa to Modi.

"So, my own view is that he should be issued a visa, if and when he wishes to visit United States...," Blackwill, who served as US ambassador in the country during 2001-03, said.

Blackwill is now a senior fellow of US Council on Foreign Relations and a lobbyist.

In 2005, the US denied Modi a diplomatic visa and revoked his existing tourist/business visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which makes a foreign government official who is responsible for particularly severe violations of religious freedom ineligible for an American visa.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

J-K: Boat carrying school children capsizes in Jhelum, 4 dead

A boat carrying mostly school children capsized in the Jhelum river on the outskirts of Srinagar on Tuesday, leaving four people dead and many others missing, officials said.

Did Pak Army Chief Sack This General?

Was Lieutenant General Ayman Bilal Safdar removed because he criticised army chief, General Asim Munir, asks Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.

How Berger Paints plans to protect its market share

'Which is growing fast and where we are very strongly positioned.'

Seen Kohli So Upset?

Virat Kohli's visible frustration mirrored Royal Challengers Bengaluru's dismal performance in their IPL 2024 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Monday, April 15, 2025.

Recipe: Easy Homemade Apple Pie

It's time to bake a lovely apple pie.