An American court has issued summons against prime minister Narendra Modi for his alleged role in 2002 communal riots in Gujarat when he was the chief minister, drawing a prompt response from the US which said he enjoys immunity as head of government.
The summons against Modi were issued yesterday by the US Federal Court for the Southern District of New York on a civil lawsuit filed by the New York-based American Justice Center (AJC), a non-profit human rights organisation, along with two survivors of the post-Godhra violence.
The court said that Modi has to respond to the summons within 21 days after it is served on him.
The prime minister, who has a packed schedule in New York from tomorrow, will leave for home on 30 September from Washington after he concludes his five-day US visit.
‘While we cannot comment specifically on this lawsuit, I can tell you that as a general legal principle sitting heads of government enjoy immunity from suits in American courts,’ a senior Obama administration official told reporters during a conference call when asked about the lawsuit against Modi.
The summons against Modi were issued yesterday by the US Federal Court for the Southern District of New York on a civil lawsuit filed by the New York-based American Justice Center (AJC), a non-profit human rights organisation, along with two survivors of the post-Godhra violence.
The court said that Modi has to respond to the summons within 21 days after it is served on him.
The prime minister, who has a packed schedule in New York from tomorrow, will leave for home on 30 September from Washington after he concludes his five-day US visit.
‘While we cannot comment specifically on this lawsuit, I can tell you that as a general legal principle sitting heads of government enjoy immunity from suits in American courts,’ a senior Obama administration official told reporters during a conference call when asked about the lawsuit against Modi.