Modi seeks apology from German delegation

Ahmedabad, Apr 10: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday, Apr 9, demanding an apology from the visiting parliamentary delegation from Germany for allegedly spoiling the image of the democratically-elected head of a state.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Modi requested Singh to take up the matter with the German Ambassador to India and said that Ambassador should direct the delegation to tender a public apology.

"Recently, a German parliamentary delegation visited Gujarat and issued statements to the news media that were maleficent in nature and were tarnishing the image of chief minister, the state of Gujarat and India. CM has said that the delegation should apologise for the matter," a state government release said.

The delegation members, who were in the state to study the status of minorities have reportedly upheld the decision of the European Union to deny visa to Modi.

Describing Modi as a dictator, the members of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of ruling coalition of Germany said that Modi practices radical politics and had a wrong approach towards religious freedom.

The Chief Minister said that the delegation should either apologise or issue a clarification if such statements have been made by them infront of the media.

"The CM appreciates the free press in the country but it does not give any public official of a foreign government a right to tarnish image of any elected head of government of the country."

"In the Centre also, statements were made based on German delegation's interaction on its single day visit to Ahmedabad city and (the delegation members) are implying that rule of law does not prevail in India," Modi said in the release.

OneIndia News