US Consul general Owen meets Modi

Gandhinagar, Nov 16 (UNI) Marking a thaw in relations, US Consul General Michael S Owen met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and discussed various issues relating to commerce, trade and economy.

The Modi government's relations with the US had become strained after the Chief Minister was denied a visa last year.

The US administration had denied him the visa after several NGOs strongly protested against Mr Modi, blaming his government for the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.

After the meeting, Mr Owen told mediapersons that the discussions centred around the investment scenario in Gujarat. He said the Chief Minister briefed him about the forthcoming Global Investors meet.''A large number of Gujaratis living in the US contribute to economic and industrial development in the US,'' he said.

He said the issue of human rights did come up during the meeting though there was no reference to the visa issue.

Mr Owen later met Energy Minster Saurabh Patel and Chief Secretary Sudhir Mankad.

UNI MMG MJ MSJ HT1927