Britain says no plan to have contact with Modi

The British government has said it does not plan to have any contact with controversial Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whose visit here has has been opposed by several groups.

"We are aware he's visiting the UK. He is not visiting at Her Majesty's government's invitation nor does the government plan to have any contact with him," home office was quoted as saying.

"We do understand the concerns expressed, but there was no appropriate grounds to refuse Modi a visa," it said.
     
Echoing the home office line, the foreign office spokeswoman said: "We are concerned by a report that the state government of Gujarat did not do as much as it could to prompt an end to the violence (after the Godhra carnage)."

Hasmukh Shah, a spokesman for the Friends of Gujarat, which helped organise his trip with more than a dozen other Hindu groups, said that Modi had been badly misrepresented.

"The allegations they are making are wholly false. In fact Modi and the authority did much to help all communities during the violence," he said.

Shah claimed that international agencies, which had investigated last year's attacks, had exonerated Modi. "No fear or favour, that is what Modi is about and he is responsible for great economic progress for all people in Gujarat," he said.

A statement by the organisers of his London trip, said: "He is here for a visit to promote the state, attract investments and invite potential participants at the Vibrant Gujarat global investor summit to be held in Gujarat next month."
 
Meanwhile, The Guardian newspaper in a profile of Modi described him as the "most controversial figure in modern Indian politics."