Controversy sparked over the recent meeting between Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and a US delegation after a Chicago daily claimed that the meeting was fixed or sponsored. The US delegates had allegedly paid USD 3,000 to USD 16,000 for the trip.
According to a report in ‘Hi India’, a South Asian daily published from Chicago, the trip was sponsored by a political action committee (PAC), and the National Indian American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI) founded by Shalabh Kumar, a Chicago businessman. The US delegation included three members of the House of Representatives – Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Aaron Schock, Cynthia Lummis. All are Republicans.
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However, the organisers of the trip said that there were no wrong doing for the trip and everything was done according to the US law. The trip was approved by the appropriate committee.
Following the report, Gujarat Congress did not spare a chance to slam Modi alleging the CM had bribed the US delegation to praise him. Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia termed the US delegation visit a ‘marketing gimmick’.
Congress also criticised after the US delegates invited Modi to visit their country praising him for developmental work in the state.