Tuesday, March 22 2005 12:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Playing down the issue of denial of visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the US today (Mar 22, 2005) said that it had nothing to do with bilateral relationship, the "close partnership and good friendship" with India and was not a reflection of Washington's views on Gujarat Government.

"It is a specific case dealing with a specific visit. It has nothing to do with bilateral relations. It has nothing to do with our close partnership and good friendship with India. It is a technical matter related to a visa application," Adam Ereli, State Department Deputy Spokesman, said in Washington yesterday (Mar 21, 21005).

"The issue of this visa, frankly, I think, should be separated entirely from the broader issue of US-India relations," he said.

On the large-scale protests by members of Indian community in Washington, especially from Gujarat, against the decision, Erelei said, "One should not make more of this decision than it is."

"It's a decision based on the interpretation of law with respect to a specific request for a visa. It is not a reflection of our views of the Government of Gujarat or the people of Gujarat or a reflection of our bilateral relations."

"And I would also (state) the great respect the United States has for the many successful Gujaratis who live and work in the US and the thousands who are issued visas to the United States each month," he said.

In the wake of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP's) severe criticism of the American decision, Ereli said the US is "deeply appreciative" of the BJP and Vajpayee Government's contribution to the improvement of Indo-US ties.

"We are deeply appreciative of the role that both the BJP and the Vajpayee Government have played in opening the way for positive transformation of US -Indian relations," Ereli said.

With regard to the appeal against the rejection of the visa application, the (Indian) Ministry of External Affairs had requested that the State Department review the decision, and upon review the State Department reaffirmed the original decision, he said.

"This was done probably at the working level," he said.

"For reasons I outlined last week, the visa that Chief Minister applied for was not given because the purposes of his visit did not coincide with the type of visa that he was requesting."

"Also an existing visa was revoked because under the terms of our law the person in question did not qualify for a visa, given his involvement in - or not his involvement - given the findings of Indian commissions in investigating actions or lack of actions by State institutions and religious conflict in Gujarat State," the State department deputy spokesperson said.