News Politics National US denies any change in visa policy for Modi

US denies any change in visa policy for Modi

Washington: US today scotched speculation that tomorrow's meeting between its Ambassador Nancy Powell and Narendra Modi would lead to lifting of the visa ban on BJP's prime ministerial candidate, insisting there was no change in

Washington also made it clear that it was not taking any position on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Justifying the meeting, Psaki said all relevant people required to take a decision were involved in the process.

However, Psaki did not confirm if President Obama or Secretary of State John Kerry were involved in it.

"These decisions don't always rise up to every highest level. But certainly, all relevant individuals who needed to weigh in weighed in, and agreed that it was certainly an appropriate meeting to have," Psaki told reporters.

"We are often engaged in concentrated outreach to senior political and business leaders. We began doing that months ago, if not years ago – in different scales, of course – to highlight and continue our US-India relationship. There has been no changes in our policy per se. This is an effort in that engagement," Psaki said.

Responding to questions, Psaki refuted suggestions that the decision of the Administration was influenced by the lobbying efforts of some pro-Modi group and business community in the US.