Threat to Modi's life in UK, trip called off

NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: Following a call from PM Manmohan Singh on Thursday night, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi cancelled his proposed UK trip.

Modi, who has been in the eye of a storm following denial of visa to him by the US, was scheduled to attend the 'Gujarat Day' function at London's Royal Albert Hall on March 26. He was to fly to London on Friday afternoon from Mumbai.

Official sources in New Delhi said the PM called Modi at 10 pm and advised him to cancel the trip in view of intelligence reports from Central agencies that there was a specific threat to his life from the Dawood Ibrahim gang and jehadi groups, including Al-Qaida affiliates. Several radical Islamic groups are known to have a strong presence in the UK. When Modi showed reluctance to cancel the trip, the PM, according to the sources, told him that if he went ahead, not only his own life would be in danger but also the consequences for the nation could be grave. Modi finally relented.

In a short span of half an hour, the CM received calls from three Union government functionaries, advising him to cancel the visit. The first to call him was home secretary Dhirendra Singh. When he showed reluctance to heed the home secretary's advice, home minister Shivraj Patil called him. But in vain.

Meanwhile, Modi held consultations with top leaders of his party, who reportedly told him that in a federal polity, the Centre's advice cannot be ignored.

The final decision to cancel Narendra Modi's visit to UK was taken after a call from the PM. Modi is reported to have told him: "If you are advising me not to go, I'll not go."

Modi invites Bush to Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: Days after he was refused a visa to visit the US, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi invited President George Bush to visit his state.

Addressing a convention of the Asian-American Hotel Owners' Association (AAHOA) in the US through video-conferencing, Modi asked Bush to come and see the culture of Gujarat.

The US had last week denied a visa to Modi, citing his role in Gujarat' sectarian violence in 2002.

Modi was then set for a six-day visit to the US to address a public meeting in New Jersey and to attend the AAHOA's convention in Florida.

Modi addressed the New Jersey public meet over a webcast Monday morning.

AmEx pulls out of Modi meet

NEW DELHI: American Express Corporation has withdrawn its sponsorship for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) convention beginning Thursday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was to have addressed the association if he had not been refused entry into the US by the Bush administration.

Christine Elliott, an official of American Express, conveyed the decision to CAG in a message which said, "As you know from our previous communications, our sponsorships at AAHOA's 2005 annual convention included the following three events: an industry issues panel, an awards ceremony and an address by former National Football League quarterback Terry Bradshaw."

"Unfortunately, a conference that was intended to help promote travel and tourism has become the object of partisan political contention. Therefore, we have chosen to withdraw from the conference," Elliott said.

Narendra Modi given clean chit in Godhra riot case

New Delhi, Dec.3 (ANI): The Supreme Court (SC) appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) is reported to have given a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Narendra Modi has long been alleged to connive with 62 others including some cabinet colleagues, police officials and bureaucrats in aiding and abetting the post-Godhra program that claimed 1000 lives in 2002.

The SIT grilled Narendra Modi a few months ago after the SC directed it to enquire into the allegations by the wife of a former Congress MP who was killed in the carnage along with 69 others. According to some newspaper reports the SIT gave a clean chit to Modi as it couldn't find evidence to substantiate his alleged connivance in the riots.

Arun Jaitley, leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, said, " The matter is sub-judice and we can't be sure of what the SIT has said." e added that if the Modi's reported acquittal by the SIT is true than their long-standing stand is finally vindicated.(ANI)