Indian Muslim Council – USA on November 18 announced that WEF had not invited Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi. The World Economic Forum (WEF) issued their statement in response to the letters sent to the WEF board that brought their attention to the human rights violations committed by the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat. Various news sources had reported the claim by the Government of Gujarat that WEF had invited Narendra Modi to speak at Davos, Switzerland in January 2008. This news prompted Dr Omar Khalidi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to initiate an independent campaign urging the WEF chairman Prof. Klaus Schwab and Board to rescind its invitation to Mr. Modi. The campaign letter was endorsed by over a hundred academics and professors who are world-renowned experts on India studies in US and Canada. The letter asserted support for India and Gujarat’s economic development, but reminded that Mr. Modi, a politician responsible for human rights violations and violence in India, should not be honoured by WEF. The Communications Director of WEF, Mark Adams, has confirmed that Narendra Modi was not invited. The response from WEF sheds light on the frequent spin and false information used by the Modi Government to create an inaccurate impression of success and progress in Gujarat. Narendra Modi’s crimes against humanity have made him a persona non grata in most of the world and he has had his visa revoked in USA in 2005. He has become a hindrance to the economic and social development in Gujarat.
IMC-USA, an advocacy group dedicated towards promoting peace, tolerance, pluralism and justice in India, commended the decision taken by WEF not to invite Narendra Modi and thanked Dr. Khalidi for his efforts in leading this campaign.