India has regretted that the United States did not revise its decision to deny a visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi despite its request for an urgent reconsideration.

The US on Monday reaffirmed its decision to deny a diplomatic visa to Modi and revoke his tourist and business visas.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said it appeared to be 'based on selective judgement' and 'disregards the fact of the constitutional position of the chief minister of Gujarat as a democratically elected leader'.

Sarna said while it was the sovereign right of a country to grant or deny visas, 'the government does not find this decision by the US in keeping with the objectives that India and the US share as democratic countries'.

Meanwhile, Modi, who was scheduled to start a five-day visit to the US from Sunday, addressed a meeting in New York's Madison Square via a satellite link on Monday.

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