‘ PM immune from human rights case’

Washington, Oct. 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is immune from the human rights violation lawsuit filed against him for his alleged role in 2002 communal riots in Gujarat when he was the state’s chief minister, the US said on Monday.

US attorney Preet Bharara told a federal court in New York that the Executive Branch of the US government “has determined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the sitting head of a foreign government, enjoys head of state immunity from the jurisdiction of US courts” in light of his current status.

As such “Modi is entitled to immunity from the jurisdiction of this court over this suit,” Mr Bharara said in his submission before a US court.

The lawsuit against Mr Modi was filed by the New York- based American Justice Centre ( AJC), a nonprofit human rights organisation, along with two survivors of the postGodhra violence.

Mr Bharara said under the customary international law principles accepted by the Executive Branch, head of state immunity attaches to a head of state’s or head of government’s status as the current holder of office.

“After a head of state or head of government leaves office, however, that individual generally retains residual immunity only for acts taken in an official capacity while in that position,” the top US attorney of Indian origin said.

Mr Bharara’s submission to the US federal court comes in response to the AJC lawsuit.