US woos Narendra Modi; ends decade long boycott as Nancy Powell meets BJP's PM nominee

NEW DELHI: Ending boycott of Gujarat Chief Minister, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell on Thursday met Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar. The meeting marks the end of a decade-long boycott of Modi by the US.

The US has sought to play down meeting of Powell with Modi, saying it is part of increased engagement with Indian leaders and indicated that President Barack Obama may not have been involved in the decision to end the BJP leader's boycott.

However, US has scotched speculation that the meeting between Powell and Modi would lead to lifting of the visa ban on BJP's prime ministerial candidate, insisting there was no change in its nine-year old policy that came in the aftermath of 2002 Gujarat riots.

Modi's visa was revoked in 2005 under the provisions of a domestic law on the issue of "severe violations of religious freedom".

In a sudden u-turn, the US on Tuesday signalled the end of its boycott of Modi when it sought and got permission for a meeting between Powell and Modi in Ahmedabad.

The State Department sought to play down Powell's meeting with Modi, saying it is part of increased engagement with Indian leaders and indicated that President Barack Obama may not have been involved in the decision to end the BJP leader's boycott.

Washington also made it clear that it was not taking any position on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.