A US Congressional report has said nine-year US visa ban on Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Indian State of Gujarat, will be automatically lifted if he becomes the prime minister of India.

New Delhi, April 1/Nationalturk : In a major boost for rightwing BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi ahead of general elections in India, a US Congressional report has said nine-year US visa ban on Modi will be automatically lifted if he becomes the prime minister of country.

Modi is presently Chief Minister of Indian State of Gujarat and  is widely considered to be one of the front-runners as prime ministerial candidate in the general elections to be held in country in nine phases from April 10 this month.

The poll surveys have shown that Modi’s party BJP may turn out to be single largest party in the polls and may form next government in India.

“If Narendra Modi was to become Prime Minister of India, he would automatically be eligible for an A-1 (diplomatic) visa as head of state, regardless of the purpose of his visit,” the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its communication to US lawmakers.

US had in 2005 denied a visa to Modi in the wake of 2002 riots in Gujarat, where he ruled. US has since not revoked its decision.

Over 1000 Muslims were killed in riots in Gujarat in 2002

Over 1000 Muslims were killed in anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat and Narendra Modi, who was ruling the State then, is accused of doing nothing to stop the anti-Muslim riots.

The seven-page report ‘Visa Policy: the case of Narendra Modi’ was prepared by the CRS – an independent and bipartisan wing of the US Congress – at the request of several lawmakers, most who have been opposed to a US visa to Modi.

The views and reports of the CRS are meant to keep the lawmakers informed and is non-binding either on the Congress or the US Government.

The CRS report also refers to the recent court cases against Modi in India in which he was given a clean chit by the courts and investigative agencies. In December 2010, a Special Investigative Team appointed by Indian Supreme Court had found “no substantial incriminating evidence” that Chief Minister Modi had let the rioters rampage against the Muslims in February 2002.

Officials, however, said only US President Barack Obama can exercise his authority to deny a visa to Modi as the Prime Minister of India if he deems that would be detrimental to the American interest.

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