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India expresses regret over US decision on Modi visa

     New Delhi: The Indian Government on Monday expressed regret over Washington's decision not to reconsider its decision to deny Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi a visa to visit that country, inspite of its verbal demarche to the Embassy of the United States of America for an urgent reconsideration of the same. In a statement, the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs, Navtej Sarna, said: "The Government of India regrets that inspite of its demarche to the Embassy of the United States of America for an urgent reconsideration of the decision to deny a visa to Shri Narendra Modi, the U.S. has not revised its decision."

Modi addresses Indian Americans, through satellite (Go To Top)

     Gandhinagar: After being denied visa for a business visit to the US, which created furore throughout the country, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association Convention at New Jersey, USA via satellite. While answering questions raised by the Indian community, he stated the developmental aspects of the country and said that he believes in action rather than reactions. "I have no reaction, I have only action. My action will be that my country develops to its full strength and becomes so popular that people from various countries wait in long queues to get visa, then my reaction wont be there, then my action will be there," said Narendra Modi, during the video conferencing.

     Modi will also address the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) in Florida and a public meeting of the Association of Indian-Americans of North America (AIANA) at Madison Square garden in New York on March 24, through video- conferencing. On March 18, in a major embarrassment to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, the United States revoked his visa in wake of the allegations of ignoring widespread anti-Muslim killings in 2002 in Gujarat.

HS Chhatha is new Haryana Speaker (Go To Top)
by Pankaj Yadav

     Chandigarh: Sardar Harmohinder Singh Chhatha was today unanimously elected as Haryana's new Speaker. This is Chhatha's second stint in the Chair. Earlier, he held the post from July 9 1987 to July 9 1991. Chhatha's name was proposed by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randip Singh Surjewala and seconded by Venod Sharma, another cabinet minister in the state government headed by Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Chhatha represents Pehwa Assembly constituency falling under Kurukshetra. Later, the Chief Minister congratulated Chhatha over his installation in the Speaker's Chair. Former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala was not present on the occasion. Incidentally, at present there is no Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly since the INLD, the biggest Opposition party, has only nine members, one short of the minimum requirement, Media Adviser to CM Surender Pal Singh told ANI over phone from Chandigarh.

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