Pics: Modi, Kejriwal caught in Wharton controversy

New Delhi, Mar 05: A country- wide debate has sparked off after Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister who was invited last month by Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to address a conference as a key note speaker was later replaced by Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal.

According to sources, the decision to drop Modi taken on Sunday night after pressure from the business school's management and alumni mounted.

A group of students and professors wrote to the business school management opposing Narendra Modi's presnece. It read, "This is the same politician who was refused a diplomatic visa by the United States State Department on 18 March 2005 on the ground that he, as Chief Minister, did nothing to prevent a series of orchestrated riots that targeted Muslims in Gujarat."

In a recent development, Arvind Kejriwal has been asked to address the conference via video conference.

The event is to take place on March 23.

Narendra Modi for key speaker

In February Narendra Modi was invited as a key speaker for the Wharton India Economic Forum, an annual student-run India-centric conference hosted by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. It is one of the most prestigious business conferences where leaders discuss the opportunities present in India and the challenges which have to be adressed.

March 22-23: Wharton India Economic Forum

The 17th edition of Wharton India Economic Forum is scheduled on March 22-23. Penn Museum, Philadelphia will host the conference. The theme this year is "Changing Seas--Steering for Growth". It was started 16 years ago.

Modi shares good relation with Mukesh Ambani

Narendra Modi shares good relation with corporate honchos like Mukesh Ambani.

All praises for Modi

At the beginning of March, Modi was praise by Bharatiya Janata Party's Chief Rajnath Singh. It almost ensures Modi to be BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the forthcoming General Elections.

Modi impresses students

Even as Modi impressed students at Shri Ram College of Commerce ( SRCC) on Feb 5, where he was invited to give a talk to the students on "Emerging business models in the global scenario", a section of them protested against him.

B- school students protest

At the same time, a group of students from Wharton School of wrote to the management protesting the the decision to have Narendra Modi as the key speaker.

Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare get together

He joined Anna Hazare in the Jan Lokpal Bill movement in April 2011. While they received immense support from across the country, infighting within their team, led them to part their ways.

Revenue officer turns activist

Arvind Kejriwal started off as a revnue officer and before turning into a social and political activist.

Modi's loss is Kejriwal's gain

Modi's loss has turned out to be Kejriwal's gain. After the business school cancelled Modi from the list of speakers, Kejriwal was asked to be a replacement.

Support for Modi pours in

Ever since the cancellation, Modi has been receiving support from all quarters. "We should question the law on the basis of which the US has denied him visa. To go on perpetrating the point because the argument of which they have denied him visa is questionable. If the question of denying visa itself is on wrong argument, is it right for us to go on that presumption and go on building on it?," questioned BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman.