FILE photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The phone call from President Barack Obama to
Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his massive electoral victory "set the tone" for ending a frosty relationship between the US and the BJP leader, said America's interim Ambassador Kathleen Stephens today.
(Obama Congratulates Narendra Modi, Invites Him to US)In 2005, Mr Modi had been denied a visa by the US, which cited human rights violations during the 2002 riots in Gujarat, which took place during Mr Modi's first term as chief minister of his home state. More than a thousand people were killed in the violence, most of them Muslims. Mr Mod has denied any wrongdoing and a Supreme Court inquiry has said there is no evidence to merit his prosecution.
A nearly decade-long boycott by the US followed, which ended in February this year with US Ambassador Nancy Powell visiting Mr Modi at his residence in Gandhinagar.
(Read)In May, Mr Modi headlined the triumphant return to power of his party, the BJP, which had for a decade served as the main opposition party.
"You know that President (Barack) Obama called up Prime Minister elect even before he was sworn in to congratulate him and extend an invitation and I think that set the tone," Ms Stephens said today to reporters.
Mr Modi will meet President Obama in Washington in September. In the last few weeks, top US officials including Secretary of State John Kerry have travelled to Delhi to meet with the PM and his administration.
(US Defence Secretary Meets PM to Boost Defence Ties: 10-Point Cheat-Sheet)