Timothy Roemer last week took a landmark trip of sorts: He visited Gujarat.
- Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
- Timothy Roemer, centre, at the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, during his visit last week.
In the past two years, the U.S. ambassador to New Delhi has crisscrossed the country and frequently speaks of his travels and the people he meets there. But Gujarat is one state that has been off-limits for U.S. envoys in India for a decade after the horrendous violence that chiefly targeted Muslims in 2002. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also has been denied a visa to travel to the U.S.
But Mr. Roemer, who leaves the post next month, visited Gujarat "to explore business to business and people to people" ties, he said in an interview Tuesday. He noted that 20% of Indian Americans hail from the western state and that it has proven to be a magnet for international and Indian business despite Mr. Modi and the allegations against him that he was complicit in the violence against Muslims. Mr. Modi has denied the accusations.
"There are opportunities for business to succeed outside Delhi and Mumbai," Mr. Roemer said.
Did Mr. Roemer meet Mr. Modi? "I did not," Mr. Roemer said. "He was in Delhi."
He added: "In India, states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa provide opportunities and despite Mr. Modi having human rights concerns – as expressed by our government – we found a way to engage the businesses and people of Gujarat."
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