Shocked by delegates remark over Modi – German Embassy

Apology sought from German delegation for comparing Modi to Hitler

PNS | New Delhi

Furious over some “unwanted remarks” made by a visiting German delegation against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP called on that country’s ambassador here on Monday and sought an apology for the remarks made against an elected Chief Minister.

Modi has also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the German ambassador and seek an apology.

In his letter, Modi asked how this delegation consisting of MP supported by Missio, a Catholic NGO, entered Gujarat without any official intimation. Modi claimed the German delegation had “malafide intentions”. The delegation reportedly compared Modi with German dictator Adolf Hitler and claimed that the Gujarat Chief Minister was a “persona non-grata” in the European Union.

Earlier in the day, a BJP delegation, led by party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, called on the German ambassador. “The German officials told the BJP delegation they were utterly shocked by these reported statements. They distanced themselves from them and assured us that a clarification would be issued at the soonest,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

The party delegation also submitted a memorandum to the German officials. “We have been assured that the memorandum and details of the issue would also be sent to the German Parliament,” Sitharaman said.

She further quoted Modi’s letter claiming that allegations of the Gujarat Chief Minister being “persona non-grata” in the European Union were incorrect. “Modi has travelled to the UK and Geneva post-2002,” Sitharaman said. The BJP has also objected to the German delegation not informing the Gujarat Government about its visit and forming an opinion about the Chief Minister without meeting him.

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