India on Friday rubbished as "frivolous and malicious attempt" the case filed in a New York court against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged role in 2002 communal riots in Gujarat during his chief ministership, saying "vested interests" have raked up the matter to "vitiate" the atmosphere during his visit.
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In an unusually strong reaction, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said it was aimed at distracting attention from the Prime Minister's visit to the US beginning on Friday.
"This case is a frivolous and malicious attempt to distract attention from the visit of the Prime Minister to the United States," he said adding "appropriate steps are being taken to address the matter."
A New York court had on Thursday issued summons against Modi for his alleged role in 2002 communal riots in Gujarat when he was the state's chief minister.
"The allegations in the case are baseless and similar to other such allegations made in the past against the prime minister. A Supreme Court of India-monitored investigation has comprehensively examined and dismissed these allegations as baseless," the spokesperson said.
Akbaruddin said the India-American community in the US was eagerly looking forward to the prime minister's visit and has prepared a "rousing" reception for him.
"It is unfortunate that vested interests are raking up the matter only to vitiate the atmosphere during the visit," he said.
The summons against Modi were issued by the US Federal Court for the Southern District of New York on a civil lawsuit filed by the New York-based American Justice Centre, a non-profit human rights organisation, along with two survivors of the post-Godhra violence.
The court said that Modi has to respond to the summons within 21 days after it is served on him. The prime minister is due to leave for home on September 30 from Washington after he concludes his five-day US visit.
During the visit, Modi will address the 69th session of the UN General Assembly and the Indian-American community at Madison Square Garden in New York before travelling to Washington to meet President Barack Obama on September 29 and 30.
