Modi eyes Delhi via US

American lawmakers invite Gujarat CM "We will be pleased if Modi visits the United States and Washington DC. We will work to make it happen." Anita Saluja New Delhi: Even as the BJP is fighting shy to declare Gujarat Chief Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate, Modi for his part, is on an overdrive to achieve his ambition. He got a shot-in-the-arm, as the US Congressional and business delegation extended an invitation to him to visit the United States on Thursday. After European Union embraced him and the United Kingdom softened its stand, now the United States is seen to be warming up to Modi. The invite of the US Congressional and business delegation was accompanied by a promise from the US Representatives to work with the US Administration to see that Modi gets the visa. US Congresswoman Cathy M Rodgers said, "We will be pleased if Modi visits the United States and Washington DC. We will work to make it happen." While the issue of Modi getting the US visa is still an issue, at the same time, the overtures of the US Congressional delegation signals the end of international isolation of Modi, with the US Representatives promising to lobby with the US Administration to get him the visa. Modi has been denied US visa on account of the Gujarat communal holocaust of 2002, a stigma, which Modi is himself fighting hard to shed, as it is coming in the way of his wider acceptability among the political parties. Modi is banking on the possible US visit � as early as in May-June itself, if all goes well � as it would automatically enhance his stature and standing and may even embolden his party to declare him the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate. The visit of the 18-member US delegation has been organized by the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) and Global Community Overreach Programme. This is a joint initiative by US-based National Indian-American Public Policy Institute and India-based Delhi Study Group. The delegation led by US Republican Congressmen from Illinois Aaron Schock, comprises Cynthia Lummis (Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming) and Cathy M Rodgers (Republican Congresswoman from Washington State) will be stay put in India till April 7. US Congresswoman Cathy M Rodgers hailed Modi's initiatives of cutting through the red-tape and rolling out the red-carpet, besides his minimum government and maximum governance model. The US Congressional delegation showered praises on him, which Modi can leverage to his advantage. "It is easy to do business in Gujarat," US Representative Aaron Schock declared, besides terming as a dynamic person with impressive track record. "Modi is doing good work and that is what matters", he said, when asked about riots in Gujarat at a media interaction. In response to a query on Modi being a Right-winger, pat came the response that Modi is described as the Ronald Reagan of India. When asked about Gujarat not being a safe destination, US Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis declared that she felt safe in Gujarat, which was not the case elsewhere in the world as there were concerns over security. After the meeting, Modi tweeted, "Am thankful to the members of USA Congress and business persons, for their kind words on Gujarat's development. I spoke to the USA delegation about how Gujarat has adopted a faster, inclusive and environment-friendly process of development." The Republican administration of George Bush had denied Modi entry to America in 2005, saying he was ineligible for visa under a section that deals with violation of religious freedom. US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake had recently declared that there was no change yet on the issue of not giving visa to Modi, but he would not prejudge issues.