US lawmaker withdraws from anti-Modi Congressional resolution

WASHINGTON: A second US lawmaker has withdrawn from co-sponsoring a new Congressional resolution asking the State Department to maintain its policy of not issuing visa to BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania Scott Perry, according to Hindu American Foundation (HAF) announced his decision to withdraw his co-sponsorship to House Resolution 417, which so far has been signed by 42 lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties.

However, both the lawmakers -- Perry and Steve Chabot -- are members of powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, which makes their decision more significant.

While Chabot had withdrawn several weeks ago, Perry took the decision after US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell met Modi in Gandhinagar last week.

In a statement, HAF, which has launched a major campaign against the H-Res 417 welcomed such a decision by Perry.

"This decision by Congressman Perry reflects the emerging consensus among lawmakers that H Res 417 is a flawed and inaccurate resolution that simultaneously damages US-India relations while doing nothing to protect Indian minorities," said Jay Kansara, HAF's director of Government Relations.