Modi still a persona non grata in EU, says German diplomat

Is chief minister Narendra Modi still a persona non grata in Europe because of the Godhra riots? He is, according to a top German diplomat from Mumbai.

German consul general, Walter Strechel, said this in an exclusive interview with DNA late Sunday night at a village in Mandvi taluka in Kutch. However, acting American consul general, David Tyler, declined to say anything more except that it was a taboo subject for him because it is a ''political and policy issue.'' Both Strechel and Tyler were in Mandvi to attend a function.

"There are 27 countries in European Union (EU) and as a member, we are bound by its earlier decision that Gujarat chief minister Modi would not be welcome in these countries because of the 2002 riots,'' Strechel said.

When asked how long the ban against Modi would continue, Strechel said this was basically a human rights issue which required EU member-countries first to reach a common understanding. Also, there should be visible signs of a conciliatory approach on the part of Modi, he hastened to add. He said since no such signs were visible at present, the time was not yet ripe for any member European country to issue visa to Modi.
A frequent visitor to the state for his official work, Walter has not met Modi personally. "I often come to Ahmedabad and other cities of the state for official work, but I have never met chief minister Modi personally, nor have any plans to do so in the near future,'' he said, adding that he was much impressed with industrial and economic progress of the state. 

When asked whether his country had any plan to set up consulate in the state when it was India's one of the most advanced states economically, he said this required permission of his government.

To a query, he said that meltdown did affect his country too in that the number of Indian visitors to Germany dwindled from 40,000 in 2007 to 32,000 in 2008.