In a prescient sort of way, the world outside began warming to Narendra Modi just a little less than a year ago. And now that Narendra Modi has been anointed the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, it’s expected that more foreign governments will warm up to Mr Modi, seeking to end the pariah status many bestowed upon him post the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Both politics and economics will determine their decision to build bridges with the man who they shunned for a decade and more. With the Western nations increasingly looking to do business in India and explore investment opportunities, they have realised that they can ill afford to ignore Gujarat, a state that’s doing well economically. Or the man seen as a potential Prime Minister.
All eyes will now be on the US which has refused to give a visa to Mr Modi more than once post the 2002 pogrom. As recently as July, the US state department spokesperson when asked by reporters whether Mr Modi would be granted a visa had spoken thus: “If Chief Minister Modi applies for a visa, his application will be considered to determine whether he qualifies for a visa, in accordance with US immigration law and policy.”
However, it remains to be seen if the US will adhere to its policy of refusing Mr Modi a visa if he does indeed become PM.
It was the UK that took the lead in reaching out to Mr Modi when it announced in September last year that it was ending its decade-long formal diplomatic boycott of the Gujarat chief minister.
Then in January this year, the EU countries too extended an olive branch to Mr Modi. Though EU nations had not announced a formal boycott, they had cold shouldered him since 2002. German ambassador Michael Steiner justified the decision saying it was taken out of respect for India’s democratic process after he led his party to victory in the Assembly polls in December 2012.
Sweden and Denmark are among Western nations that have engaged with him. Last month, the Australian government invited Mr Modi to visit their country.
The envoys of 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations too met the Gujarat CM in July this year, their eagerness to do business with Gujarat, a state that’s faring well economically and has shown good growth.