Narendra Modi free to apply for US Visa: Robert Blake

NEW DELHI: The US on Tuesday described Gujarat as a "very important market" for American companies and said chief minister Narendra Modi was free to apply for a visa anytime but the system will take its course.

"We have very good relations with Gujarat. It's obviously a very important market for our American companies. And we'll continue to have those kinds of relations. We do every thing we can to promote trade, and not just with Gujarat but with all states in India, and in terms of Mr Modi, I don't want to speculate. He's free to apply for another visa, whenever he chooses, and you know, the system will take its course," US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said in an interview to Times NOW on Tuesday when asked if the US will warm up to Modi, after the UK.

The statement is seen as an indication of a thaw in the US approach towards Modi, with BJP welcoming the move saying the change was the outcome of an acknowledgement of development in Gujarat. The UK had recently ended a 10-year diplomatic boycott of Modi following the Gujarat riots and showed interest in ties with Gujarat in various fields, including trade and investment. The cordial statements from abroad come at a time when Modi is fighting for a third term as chief minister with assembly elections in December.