• Your editorial,‘Modi, Martyr’ (IE, 19 March) referring to Saudi Arabia reminds me of an episode of ’57. Officers of INS Tir visiting Daharan were given a dinner by the local chieftain. It was an unforgettable meal spread out on a table as long as a cricket pitch. Later we heard that after a similar feast to which King Ibn Saud’s enemies were invited, the host got 300 of them beheaded. When the king was visiting the US after this, New York’s mayor refused to welcome him. A senior state department official had to be deputed by President Eisenhower to prevent a diplomatic incident. — Mukund B. Kunte New Delhi • The US cannot be faulted for denial of a visa to the Gujarat CM. The grant of a visa is the privilege of a country. It cannot be claimed as a right. Also, Modi’s proposed visit was not a part of any diplomatic assignment. The only thing the Indian government can do is to act on a reciprocal basis. Modi is wrong to claim that this denial is an insult to the Constitution. It was the failure of his government to control the riots and bring the culprits to justice that has made mockery of our Constitution. — J.M. Manchanda New Delhi • The US government’s decision to reject Modi’s visa application is not only distressing but smacks of arrogance. Modi is the constitutionally elected CM of Gujarat and for his application for visa to be rejected on the ground of his practicing religious bigotry is most insulting. Every Indian should condemn the US for this. — V.N. Rana New Delhi • Narendra Modi alleges that by denying him a visa, the US is interfering with our Constitution. That would be so if they told us who we should give visas to. This is their internal matter. Like so many Indians who fail to get permission to visit that country, Modi should just accept this. — Lalit Mohan Gurgaon • The US embassy’s move to debar Modi from entering their country should serve as a wakeup call to all Hindutva hardliners. We live in a global village and no incident occurs in isolation. — Vimlaksh Gautam On e-mail • I support the US government’s decision to revoke Modi’s visa. He has participated in a serious violation of religious freedom. His role in the pogrom and its aftermath is well known. What is even more sad is the total lack of remorse in Modi for what happened in 2002. India should not ask US to reconsider its decision since he deserves to be condemned. — Pranav Sachdeva New Delhi • It is highly provoking insult by US to revoke and refuse a visa to Modi. The grounds for the refusal is not sustainable. In fact, since the last elections in Gujarat, there has been no communal violence in that state. — G.V. Ashtekar Mumbai View on the umpire • The umpiring decisions from Buknor indicate a clear bias. India should take a stand that he will never again umpire any match when India is playing. Unless we are willing to stand firm on this, we will not get justice (IE, Mar 19). — E.N. Gadre Secunderabad
