US court asks India's Congress to answer charges on 1984 attacks on Sikhs

[Omar1984]

US court asks Congress to answer charges on 1984 attacks on Sikhs

IANS, Mar 23, 2011, 11.03am IST


NEW YORK: India's Congress party has been asked to respond by April 1 to "summons" issued by a US court to answer charges of "conspiring, aiding, abetting and organizing" attacks on Sikhs in November 1984.

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued the summons March 1 in response to a class action law suit filed by "Sikhs For Justice" (SFJ) a US based human rights group along with several Sikh witnesses and survivors of the 1984 attacks.

"if the Congress party did not respond to the summons of the US Federal Court by April 1, 2011, SFJ will ask the court to enter a default against Congress (I)," SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said Tuesday.

The default judgment against Congress (I) will give the victims of November 1984 an opportunity to seek compensatory and punitive damages from Congress (I) for the party's role in "genocidal attack" on Sikhs during November 1984, he said.

The default judgment against Congress (I) will also pave the way for filing criminal complaints against the party leadership under various international laws for violation of human rights, Pannun said.

In US, criminal prosecution of Congress (I) leadership will be sought under the "Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009" which specifically gives jurisdiction to the US Courts to prosecute foreign nationals who are suspected of committing crimes against humanity, he said.


US court asks Congress to answer charges on 1984 attacks on Sikhs - Economic Times

 

[53fd]

I'm surprised the US courts haven't asked the Indian government to answer for Modi's massacres in Gujarat as CM, considering the fact that the US refused to grant Modi a visa to visit the country.

 

[no_name]

Can't touch Modi now, he may still be of use.

 

[Yeti]

I'm surprised the US courts haven't asked the Indian government to answer for Modi's massacres in Gujarat as CM, considering the fact that the US refused to grant Modi a visa to visit the US.

Learn how Gujarat riots started it takes 2 to tango and not only muslims died in the rioting

 

[StingRoy]

I'm surprised the US courts haven't asked the Indian government to answer for Modi's massacres in Gujarat as CM, considering the fact that the US refused to grant Modi a visa to visit the US.

Someone needs to appeal in the US court for an answer, else why would they bother.

Anyways... on topic... I am really doubtful how the congress which is the "ruling govt" will react to this. Had they been in opposition, it would have been interesting to watch.
I doubt it will gain much importance with the current govt.

 

[blackops]

I never knew foreign courts can also order a countries government

 

[Yeti]

Narendra Modi to get Canadian, US visa soon

Gujarat CM Modi to get Canadian, US visa soon

 

[StingRoy]

I never knew foreign courts can also order a countries government

They can ask anything they want from any organisation in the world, but that doesn't mean that everyone has to comply. If the Indian govt wishes, they can say, the case is pending in the Indian courts and buzz off till it is final... or just turn a blind eye to the request.

 

[no_name]

It's partly a push test thing. Little incidents like this which may look inconsequential are often used to gauge a country's reaction.

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

american courts should mind it's own business..indians are not answerable to them for something happened in india against indians.

 

[53fd]

Learn how Gujarat riots started it takes 2 to tango and not only muslims died in the rioting

Only in India does one hear a large scale massacre against non-Hindus being termed a 'riot'. Sikhs were killed in a 'riot', Gujarati Muslims were killed in a 'riot', Christians in Orissa are killed in 'riots', Muslims in Bhagalpur, Ajmer Sharif, Malegaon, Ayodhya, Hyderabad etc killed in 'riots'; there is no possible way non-Hindus can be targeted in India; but when Hindus are killed, they are specifically targeted by non-Hindus, and those are not 'riots'

 

[StingRoy]

^ But some of them did migrate to the US after 84 riots... so I am sure they will have grievances too.... I won't stress out too much on this especially when the Indian govt is not answerable to the US courts anyways... If the individuals who have filed this case want an answer/justice, it would have been better to file a case in the Indian courts.... but anyways the case is ongoing as well, so unfortunately not much can be done.

 

[StingRoy]

Only in India does one hear a large scale massacre against non-Hindus being called a 'riot'. Sikhs were killed in a 'riot', Gujarati Muslims were killed in a 'riot', Christians in Orissa are killed in 'riots', Muslims in Bhagalpur, Ajmer Sharif, Malegaon, Ayodhya, Hyderabad etc killed in 'riots'; there is no possible way non-Hindus can be targeted in India; but when Hindus are killed, they are specifically targeted by non-Hindus, and those are not riots

You forget, that Hindus are also victims in these "riots" ... a truth you so conveniently ignored while fervently typing away in your mind.

 

[Yeti]

Only in India does one hear a large scale massacre against non-Hindus being termed a 'riot'. Sikhs were killed in a 'riot', Gujarati Muslims were killed in a 'riot', Christians in Orissa are killed in 'riots', Muslims in Bhagalpur, Ajmer Sharif, Malegaon, Ayodhya, Hyderabad etc killed in 'riots'; there is no possible way non-Hindus can be targeted in India; but when Hindus are killed, they are specifically targeted by non-Hindus, and those are not 'riots'

How did the riots in Gujarat start? and you do know hindus died in the riots too but i guess that slipped your mind

As a result, 58 Hindu pilgrims — mostly women, children and seniors returning from the holy city of Ayodhya — were burned alive. The attack prompted retaliatory massacres against Muslims on a large scale, in which 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed. 223 more people were reported missing.[3][4] 523 places of worship were damaged: 298 dargahs, 205 mosques, 17 temples, and 3 churches. Muslim-owned businesses suffered the bulk of the damage. 61,000 Muslims and 10,000 Hindus fled their homes


Now dont talk rubbish on minority rights Pakistan is the last country on earth to comment on that

 

[53fd]

You forget, that Hindus are also victims in these "riots" ... a truth you so conveniently ignored while fervently typing away in your mind.

Of course, I forgot that the Hindus are victims in everything and cannot possibly be responsible for anything bad. Thank you for reminding me, I'll make sure I remember that the next time I talk to you...