Protest at UK 'welcome' for Hindu leader

TO SOME he is a respected Indian politician - to others, the evil figure responsible for thousands of deaths.

So it came as no surprise when Narendra Modi's arrival in Britain last night was met by hundreds of protesters. They gathered to hurl abuse at the minister, a member of India's ruling BJP party, as he arrived to address 2,000 Hindu businessmen and leaders in Wembley.

Modi, 52, the chief minister of India's western state of Gujarat, is blamed for the sectarian murder of at least 2,000 Muslims last year.

More than 300 banner waving demonstrators hurled abuse at delegates arriving at Wembley Conference Centre to hear him speak last night.

Muslim groups from across Britain, including the South Asia Solidarity Group, Indian Workers' Association and Dawood Family Justice Campaign, organised the protest because they say Mr Modi has blood on his hands.

At one stage the protesters breached a police line but Mr Modi's 50-minute speech went ahead as planned. There were no arrests.

However, IT manager Bilal Dawood, 34, brother of Saeed, 41, and related to Shakil, 38, who died when Hindu extremists torched their car in Gujarat after discovering they were Muslims, said: "I am surprised, shocked and disgusted he is here and I am surprised the UK government let him in.

It is almost by allowing him into the country they have approved of what is going on in India where thousands of people are being murdered."

A spokesman for the Friends of Gujarat which organised Mr Modi's visit in a bid to attract investment to Gujarat, said he was not linked with the violence in Gujarat.

A Home Office spokesman said: "He is not visiting at Her Majesty's Government's invitation. We do understand the concerns but there were no appropriate grounds to refuse Mr Modi a visa."

(c)2003. Associated Newspapers Ltd.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.