Cong downplays US Congressional delegation's meeting with Modi

The Congress today sought to downplay US Congressional delegation's meeting with Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and their open appreciation of his achievements in the field of good governance.

The Congress on Saturday sought to downplay US Congressional delegation's meeting with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and their open appreciation of his achievements in the field of good governance.

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"Well, the US Ambassador came to see me yesterday. I would like to know as to how BJP looks at it," information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said when asked about the meeting.

Modi was invited by the US Congressional delegation to visit America notwithstanding the US administration's denial of visa to him over the 2002 riots.

The United States Congressional delegation's recent invitation to chief minister Narendra Modi was a "marketing gimmick" by his public relations machinery, the Gujarat Congress said on Friday.

Modi, the party said, has hired such agencies at a huge cost which is paid by the state exchequer.

"Modi's American PR agency APCO Worldwide has been tasked with bringing such delegations to praise him," state Congress president Arjun Modhvadia said in Ahmedabad.

The agency is being paid $25,000 a month since 2007. It has been lobbying with countries which had shut their doors on Modi following the 2002 riots, Modhvadia said.

"Besides the three Congressional members, the delegation comprised smalltime businessmen associated the Overseas friends of BJP," Modhvadia said.

(With inputs from PTI, HT)