Monday, March 21 2005 09:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today (Mar 21, 2005) said that he had no grievance against Americans or US for denying him a visa to visit the country.

Addressing a large gathering of Indian-American Community in New Jersey (United States) thorough tele-conferencing after US denied him a diplomatic Visa last week, Modi asked Indians living in US to become ambassadors of the country and try to counter the "propaganda" being launched by "motivated groups with vested interests" with an aim to defame the country.

He said that a "disinformation campaign" was being launched to malign India.

During his hour-long address conducted from his residence in the wee hours, Modi sold the concept of a "robust and developed" Gujarat to the NRIs and went on to criticise those who rallied against his proposed US-tour.

He appealed to the NRIs to make India a global hot spot and a investment locale where people will line up to procure Indian visas.

Modi said that Gujarat is a State with "robust and world class infrastructure, effective water management policy and a gas-based economy".

He said that there was sufficient scope of investments in the State with several Special Economic Zones (SEZs), apparel parks, marine biotechnology park, pharmaceuticals and agro-product industries.

The US on Friday (Mar 18, 2005) revoked Modi's tourist/business visa and denied him diplomatic visa apparently over the Gujarat riots. Modi was scheduled to make a five-day visit to US from yesterday (Mar 20, 2005).

Modi also spoke at length about various developmental schemes launched by his Government including the insurance scheme for children Vidya Deep Yogna after the devastating Gujarat earthquake of 2001 which killed many school children.

On the visa issue, Modi said a handful of persons had managed to publish false information and had succeeded in defaming the country. He said such false campaigns could be countered by putting forth facts along with explanations.

When quizzed by mediapersons after the tele-conference as to how he is going to tackle a similar campaign, which has begun in UK regarding his proposed visit to the country, Modi smiled and said, "Some individuals earn their bread in this manner."

Modi also avoided a direct answer to a query whether he would go to US if a visa is granted on a later date.

Narendra Modi yesterday likened the denial of visa to him by the United States to the preventing of entry to Mahatma Gandhi into the first class coach of a train in South Africa by the British.

"I am not warning USA. But they should not forget that the frail looking Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi shook the foundation of the Britishers because of the insult," he said addressing the 'Bharat Swabhimaan Rally' organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue of US denial of visa to Modi.