Nancy Powell to meet Narendra Modi today

GANDHINAGAR: US ambassador to India Nancy Powell will meet Gujarat CM Narendra Modi on Thursday at 9.45am at his official residence in Gandhinagar-the first such meeting after the US denied Modi a diplomatic visa in 2005. Powell is also scheduled to meet leader of opposition in the Gujarat assembly, Shankersinh Vaghela.

Powell, who arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday evening, will attend a seminar in Pandit Deen Dayal Petroleum University and an event organized by SEWA after meeting the CM.

Even as the Gujarat secretariat was abuzz with the visit, the United States downplayed the development as simply part of political outreach efforts. "Well, as you know, we are often engaged in concentrated outreach to senior political and business leaders," state department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters when asked what led the US to change its policy on the Gujarat chief minister.

"There have been no changes in our policy per se," she said, adding, "These decisions don't always rise up to every highest level. But certainly, all relevant individuals who needed to weigh in weighed in, and agreed that it was certainly an appropriate meeting to have." Powell will also visit Adalaj step-well during the day.