Just ahead a few hours of his arrival in US, a US Federal Court on Thursday has issued summons to Prime Minister Mr.Modi regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots case during which he was the Chief Minister of the State. Modi is going to arrive in US post the lifting of nine year visa ban on him. The paintiffs were the two survivors of the Godra riots of 2002 and the lawsuit against Modi has been filed under the Alien Tort Claims Act and the Torture Victim Protection Act .
According to the lawsuit, the 28 page complaint is for seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Modi for committing crimes against humanity, extra-judicial killings, torture and inflicting mental and physical trauma on the victims, mostly from the Muslim community.
But the arrival of the summons after 12 years of the Gujarat riots and while Modi is going to land in US for a 5 day visit seems to have a different connotations especiality publicity because, being the PM of a Nation, holding the highest order of office, Mr.Modi enjoys the immunity from any law of the US.
According to the summons, Modi has to answer for the charges made against him within 21 days and if he fails to do so, judgement by default will be entered against Modi in the favour of the complainant. But the summons is dead on the arrival as Modi enjoys the immunity status. And though he will be in US for the next five days, US can’t take any action on him and this would remain just a publicity stunt opine the lawyers on the summons.
