Washington, Calling India a “very important strategic
partner”, the US hopes that its “enduring partnership” with India will only
grow under the new government led by Narendra Modi despite the flap over his
visa.
“Obviously, we have a long, enduring partnership with India. That will
continue and hopefully only grow in the future,” State Department spokesperson
Jen Psaki told Here Monday referring President Barack Obama’s invitation
to the prime minister elect.But despite the direct invitation from Obama ending
the over decade-long US boycott of the Bharatiya Janata Party leader,
whose US visa was revoked in 2005 for his alleged role during the 2002 Gujarat
riots, the State department continued to play word games over the issue.“I’m
not going to get into the tick-tock, but heads of government and heads of state
are eligible for an A-1 visa and must travel to the United States on an A-1
visa regardless of the purpose of the trip,” Psaki said when asked if the US
visa ban on Modi had ended.
“As prime
minister of India, obviously Modi would be a head of state, and you saw the
announcement from the White House this weekend, after the President’s call,
that they have invited him and would welcome him to the United States,” Psaki
saidBut Modi have to apply for the visa to come to the US? “Again, I’m not
going to get into the tick-tock of the logistics, but obviously heads of state
come to the United States on A-1 visas,” she repeated declining to say if the
US had talked to Modi’s team on the issue.Asked if she read anything in Modi
not tweeting his thanks to President Obama’s congratulations, Psaki said: “I
don’t have any Twitter analysis today to share.
We look forward to welcoming him to the United States when that visit is
scheduled.”“I think our relationship between the United States and India is so
strong and enduring we won’t worry about the Twitter rank order,” she added.Asked
who would be the new US point person for dealing with the new Modi government
once the US ambassador Nancy Powell leaves later this month, Psaki noted that
the US has “an extensive team on the ground, a very large presence in India,
given the importance of our relationship.”“There will be a range of officials
on the ground who will be in touch with the new government and be working with
them” she said.“That just as is true with many, many governments where they
have a very important strategic relationship.”
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