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Hindu blamed for riot deaths to address summit in London
Amar Singh02.03.09
AN Indian politician who has been blamed for allowing thousands of people to be killed in riots has been invited to speak at a London business summit.
Narendra Modi, the Gujurat chief minister, has been accused of failing to halt the killings of more than 1,000 Indian Muslims in 2002.
The Hindu politician has been called a "merchant of death" by his political opponents and human rights groups blame him for presiding over a campaign of "state-sponsored genocide".
His supporters, however, say he could do little to stop mobs retaliating against the murder of 58 Hindu pilgrims.
He has since been banned from entering the United States, which officially blames his state government for "participating and encouraging" the attacks.But the Home Office has a different stance to Modi, 58, and granted him the right to come here in 2005 for a cultural festival, although he called off the trip over fears for his safety.
They are expected to grant him a visa once again although the Home Office has yet to receive an application for this year.
Modi is expected to be the keynote speaker at a £1,000-a-ticket conference on "Indian business success" at Mayfair's Marriott hotel, organised by Dow Jones Financial News.
Other speakers at India Summit 2009 on 19 and 20 May will include former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur.
The conference will also cover how "India is combating issues of security and corporate governance in light of the Mumbai attacks".
Modi, a senior figure in India's Right-wing BJP party, last week called for a military response to the terror attacks, which were planned on Pakistani soil. He said: "Unless you reply to Pakistan in the language it understands, terrorism will not be wiped out from this country."
Human rights organisations are urging the British authorities to prevent Modi arriving in London. Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International Asia Programme director, said: "Narendra Modi was in government when thousands of people were killed in horrific violence in Gujarat state.
"These are potentially serious human rights violations and as such the British authorities should examine this if and when he attempts to visit London."
Dow Jones, which has invited Modi to the UK, declined to comment on his past when contacted by the Evening Standard.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We are determined to prevent individuals coming to the UK who want to spread extremism, or hatred in our communities."
Two of those killed in the riots were British tourists. Their families have sued Modi's state government for £2.6 million. The case is set to be brought before India's Supreme Court.
Reader views (5)
I'm a bit puzzled here - how is this guy (I don't know him from Adam, so I've got no political axe to grind either way) - just how can he in particular be held responsible for something that has been going on for hundreds of years before his becoming the Chief Minister of Gujurat, and has happened since 2002 as well? Tit-for-tat killings are a way of life almost between the Muslims and the Hindus of India and surrounding nations.
Sounds an awful lot like political posturing rather than substance. If he should be excluded for his association with the government of the day then so should all such members, and by extension the entire population who were instrumental in electing them.
...which of course is ridiculous.
There's more important things going on in the world than political point scoring sound-bytes and photo-ops.
- Rogan, Irving
Absolutely, he shouldnt be let in. the man is a criminal, like unfortunately some Indian politicians are.
Hinduism doesnt condone violence. and I wish people would stop using religions as an excuse or reason to incite violence
- Dd, London
And they say racism only happens in the UK and America carried out by white people !
- Joe, Swanley Kent
I'll be boycotting that event, not that I've been invited. Such fomenters of hatred at home or abroad should be banned.
- Dhanraj, basildon
If they banned the Dutch MP, one who did not have blood on his hands, then this man MUST also be banned.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London
