© 1999 VNN
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USA January 19, 1999 VNN2881 See Related VNN Stories California Governor Pete Wilson Helps Ritvik Leader USA, Jan 19 (VNN) — VNN has learned of a failed attempt to prevent Madhu Pandit das, the president of the ISKCON temple in Bangalore, India, from attending the L.A. IRG meeting on January 16th. Reportedly he had had received a visa to the USA for the meeting. Shortly before his departure from India his visa was canceled by the U.S. consulate in Madras after a petition was presented to the consulate in which over 100 signatories requested that the consulate prevent Madhu Pandit from going to the U.S. because, if he did, he would destroy the ISKCON movement. After his visa was revoked, Madhu Pandit used his contacts which resulted in the newly retired California Governor Pete Wilson calling the U.S. consul directly and requesting the issuance of a new visa, which was then granted. Madhu Pandit then was able to catch a plane and arrived the day before the Los Angeles IRG meeting. At this time it is not known who organized the petition campaign, so a published report that mentions that it was organized by a GBC secretary cannot been confirmed. VNN is in the process of obtaining a copy of the petition to verify who had organized the petition. See Related VNN Stories | Comment on this Story This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/usa/US9901/US19-2881.html
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