Kamal Nath claims diplomatic immunity in 1984 riots case in US

Washington: Indian Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath has claimed diplomatic immunity and lack of service of summons before a US court in a case over his alleged role in the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

In response to summons issued by Judge Robert W. Sweet of the US Federal Court for the Southern District of New York, Kamal Nath claimed diplomatic immunity stating that he was on a special mission as a government official on his numerous travels to New York.

He has also claimed sovereign immunity under common law; and immunity under Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act (FSIA) of the US in the case filed by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a US based human rights advocacy group, and some victims of the 1984 riots.

Requesting the court to dismiss the law suit, Kamal Nath filed a sworn affidavit that during his April 2010 visit to New York, no one ever served him with the summons and complaint.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ legal advisor, suggested that Kamal Nath's June 24 affidavit "clearly and blatantly contradicts his earlier statements".

On April 6, Kamal Nath publicly acknowledged receiving the summons, he said.

According to Pannun, he then stated: "A piece of paper was given to me. I will have to see what the piece of paper is all about."

"I really have no clue about it. I don't have a basis and I don't know the authenticity. I don't know the validity. It was for the first time that I saw it," he was quoted as saying.

Sweet had March 1 issued summons to Nath and the Congress party in the case accusing them of "conspiring, aiding, abetting and carrying out organised attacks on Sikh population of India in November 1984", according to Pannun.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)

 Tweet

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Outspoken PM wins no new friends

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday appeared to have won no new friends following a rare media interaction where he expressed  »

Manmohan says he is doing his best, flays media

Not a lameduck PM: Manmohan Singh

Ready to be under Lokpal, but cabinet must agree: PM

  Most Read

Narendra Modi slammed for destroying 2002 riot documents

The Congress said Thursday that the Gujarat government had deliberately destroyed intelligence records related to the 2002 riots in the state. "It is astounding that vital documents  »

Telangana movement set to enter crucial phase

After a four-month lull, the movement for statehood to the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh is set to enter a crucial phase with the major players, hopeful of achieving their goal, gearing up to  »

  News Pick

Organization of Islamic Cooperation sets up own rights panel

In an interesting development, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decided to establish a human rights »

US researcher says she is fine, police deny abduction

Bihar Police Thursday denied that suspected Maoists abducted an American university scholar researching on the rebels in Jamui district. The »

Maoists abduct US varsity researcher

Two DU staffers held for supplying fake caste certificates

Two Delhi University (DU) employees have been arrested for supplying fake caste certificates to students for admission to colleges, police said Thursday. Neeraj Sharma and Sanjit Mahajan are both permanent employees of  »

Apex court warns private medical colleges against lapses

The Supreme Court Thursday slammed private medical and dental colleges for lapses in admissions and said it will have to step in if things do not improve. The apex court vacation bench of Justice P. Sathasivam and  »

Picture of the Day

They are not high-profile celebrities, but at least 33 wildlife lovers have adopted animals at Bhopal's Van Vihar National Park here under their unique guardianship scheme. Others can also do the same. A board is put outside the enclosure with the name of the sponsor.

(Photo: IANS)