VISA power...

It has been disturbing to read the USA denying a visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on grounds of 'human rights violation' clearly talking about the pogrom back in 2002. This is not the first time they have done such a thing to Modi. The last time they did it was in 2005 and even UK followed suit then. This time all his attempts to attend the World Gujarati Conference seem to be over at least for now. But one cannot but wonder why USA could have done this to a democratically elected Chief Minister of an Indian state who has recently been re-elected by the electorate by thumping majority. What is now clear is that George Bush, a torchbearer of human rights and how to win elections honestly will deny visa to others. Here I do not support Modi nor am I ignorant to the charges levelled against him but then one must wait for the Nanavati report to actually level such serious charges and if the report finds him guilty, one hopes action is taken and things are not put under the cover like the 'secular' Congress government has done to the Srikrishna Report in Maharashtra.
What one fails to understand is the fact that George Bush and his government can still take the liberty to call others of having no respect for individual dignity. We are still waiting for weapons in Iraq and the country has gone from worse to more worse since 2003. Moreover, one must understand that Modi is a democratically elected leader of an Indian state. In 2005, the atmosphere was different but since then he has won another mandate from the people and has been sitting there democratically; he has not rigged an election. The 2007 Gujarat Vidhan Sabha elections saw a record 60% vote being casted and any political observer will agree it is a good number. Does it mean that USA has lost respect for the people of Gujarat? Every group has the right to protest but such blatant abuse of one's diplomatic superiority is not a good thing. It also makes me wonder if it is some carrot and stick policy the USA is following- a brilliant nuclear deal, for which President Bush deserves full credit and the excellent Indo-USA relations again for which only President Bush is to be thanked is to be complemented with such an attitude to Modi, from whom many must at least learn to govern, just as people feel he must learn from others as far as secularism is concerned...