Modi: Religious Freedom commission filed report

A report filed by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom headed by Indian American, Preeta Bansal, could be one of the important, if not the main, reasons for the denial of visa to Modi.

The commission conveyed its deep concerns about Modi's visit to the US State Department.

"At a time when the newly elected Indian government and courts have initiated a number of actions to address the tragic Gujarat massacres, in which Gujarat state officials were found to be complicit, the commission has been concerned

that Modi's private visit will only serve to give a platform in the United States to someone who has been implicated in grave violations of religious freedom," said Bansal.

"We urge the department to act with appropriate Indian officials to forestall or prevent the planned visit," Bansal said.

The USCIRF was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.