More MPs claim signatures forged on letter to Barack Obama against Narendra Modi visa

Mangalore Today News Network/NDTV

New Delhi, July 24, 2013:The BJP says that a detailed inquiry must determine whether parliamentarians have written to President Obama, urging him not to rescind a ban on a visa for Narendra Modi.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said that "more than half of the MPs (who are signatories) have denied writing such a letter. It is important to catch those who forged signatures."

Sitaram Yechury of the Left was the first to contest the veracity of his signature on the letter that has 65 signatories. Now, KP Ramalingam of the DMK has also claimed forgery. Sanjeev Naik of the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP says he is mistakenly listed as a Rajya Sabha member.

Mohammed Adeeb, a member of the Rajya Sabha, insists that the letter is authentic. He alleged that MPs like Mr Yechury are bending to pressure from their parties to disclaim the note. Professing that he welcomes an inquiry, he said,"Anyone found guilty of cheating colleagues should be punished and removed from  parliament."

Mr Adeeb says that by re-sending the letter to the White House, he hopes to stultify the effort of BJP chief Rajnath Singh, who was in the US this week, to lobby for an end to the ban on Mr Modi’s travel to America. In 2005, the US denied Mr Modi a visa, citing "the violation of religious freedoms" in the communal riots that ravaged his home state in his first term as Gujarat Chief Minister.

The BJP says that attempts to lobby against Mr Modi in the US reflect desperation among other politicians who know they cannot combat his growing popularity among voters at home.

Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the letter seeks "A third umpire in the USA" for a political match at home which is being lost by Mr Modi’s opponents.