US delegates deny fixing, say trip to meet Modi legitimate

New Delhi, March 30: As a controversy broke out over visit of a

delegation to meet Chief Minister of

, the US officials denied that it was a paid visit. US officials maintain that the trip to meet Modi was official and legitimate.

Earlier, Congress alleged that the US delegates were paid money to visit India and meet Modi.

"US House of Representatives approved of the trip. It was official and legitimate," said officials.

Gujarat Congress has called the meeting between Modi and US delegates 'marketing gimmick'. The US delegation included three Republican legislators.

"This is nothing but a marketing gimmick by some global Public Relation firms to promote Modi," state Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia had said.

Congress had also alleged that the officials were also paid to praise the chief minister.

The delegation, led by Republican member in House of Representatives from Illinois Aaron Schock, called on Modi on Thursday, March 28. The delegation members also invited Modi to US.

Modi has been denied visa since 2005 by the US over the issue of 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Modhwadia had alleged that "though three Parliamentarians and few small-time businessmen were here as a group of Overseas Friends of BJP, the impression was created as if this is an official US delegation and US government itself has extended the invitation".

"Thanks to whole PR exercise, an impression was also created that Modi has been granted visa by the US government.

"But fact remains that, in spite of repeated efforts through lobbying, not only past US administration but present Obama administration has too refused to change its stand over the issue of granting visa to Modi," Modhwadia had said.

"The chief minister should refrain from misguiding the people of the state and should also stop spending state resources for his own image building," he had said.

OneIndia News