“Modi was shunned by Western nations for years after the bloodshed in Gujarat, where he has been chief minister since 2001. He was denied a U.S. visa in 2005 under the terms of a 1998 U.S. law which bars entry to foreigners who have committed ‘particularly severe violations of religious freedom.’ Modi’s rise on the national stage, however, and the importance of relations with India, which the United States sees as a key counterbalance to China in Asia, have forced a rethink. The State Department described the Indian elections as ‘an inspiring example of the power of the democratic process in action’ and stressed their peaceful nature – in spite of the killing of 41 Muslims in the state of Assam.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/12/us-india-election-usa-idUSBREA4B0Y120140512