U.S. Court Issues Summons To Modi In 2002 Gujarat Riots Case

Reacting to the lawsuit in New Delhi, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday said that the government would examine the reported summons issued by the US court against Modi. "We will examine it. I don't know it. I am only hearing it from you. We will examine it," Prasad told reporters in New York.

Meanwhile, an eminent Indian-American lawyer has said that the lawsuit is "dead on arrival", arguing that Modi in his capacity as India's head of state enjoys immunity status.

Given that the U.S. State Department in a recent similar case against former PM Manmohan Singh, had said that he enjoyed "immunity status" in his capacity as head of state, New York-based lawyer Ravi Batra has alleged that the lawsuit against Modi is a publicity stunt.

"That the case is dead on arrival on the law, or that Prime Minister Modi currently has head-of-state immunity is irrelevant to those who use lawsuits to generate only publicity and are equal opportunity haters of India no matter whom the Indians elect as part of India's stunning democracy: Indian National Congress or the BJP," Batra said.

The SFJ and AJC differed. "Plaintiffs are invoking U.S. laws which provide remedy to the victims of gross human rights violations. The genocidal attacks on and organised killing of Muslims in 2002 under the leadership of Modi qualifies as tort under the U.S. and international laws," argued Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor, American Justice Center.

During his six-day visit, Modi would address the annual United Nations General Assembly, the Indian-American community at Madison Square Garden in New York, and then travel to Washington to meet President Barack Obama on September 29 and 30.

Groups known for their anti-India activities have planned a series of demonstrations against him in both New York and Washington.       

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