Saturday, March 19 2005 16:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) has said it is pleased by the US Government's decision to deny a visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

In a statement, the FIACONA said the US State Department has made a "strong and right" decision.

"This action by the US administration is a recognition of Modi's involvement in February 2002 killings and his continued policies of harassment of religious minorities in Gujarat," the statement said.

John Prabhudoss, the chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee of FIACONA, said, "I applaud the decision of the State Department and I thank the US Congress for standing with us in the effort."

"Those who invited Modi to honour him in the US have done so in total neglect for the pain and suffering he has caused to hundreds of thousands of people in Gujarat and elsewhere," he said.

The national president of FIACONA, Rev Bernard Malik said, "The pain and suffering of the people in Gujarat caused by Modi directly and indirectly have been taken note by the international community. In a free world one should not be allowed to get away with such brutal abuse of state power against vulnerable innocent people."