New York: The Congress Party has sought dismissal of an
anti-Sikh riots case against it in a US court on grounds that the case
was filed nearly 25 years after the 1984 riots took place. A US judge in
New York will hear the motion on June 27.
In a motion filed in federal court in New York on May 29, the
Congress party has sought dismissal of the claims filed by rights group
Sikhs For Justice saying the riots took place in November 1984 and the
victims filed their case in March 2011.
Due to the lapse of 25 years, the statute of limitation had already expired, lawyers for the political party said.
"Plaintiffs' claims are time-barred because they complain about
alleged activities that occurred more than twenty-five years ago; all
statutes of limitations have long expired," said attorney Geoffrey
Stewart of the law firm Jones Day, which is defending the Congress in
the case.
The party has been accused by the Sikh group of conspiring,
aiding, abetting and carrying out attacks on the community in November
1984 following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by
her Sikh bodyguards.
Judge Robert Sweet, presiding over the matter, said the Congress'
motion to dismiss SFJ's complaint or to get a stay would be heard on
June 27.
Meanwhile, SFJ said Congress Member of Parliament Motilal Vora
submitted an affidavit in the US Court in support of the motion to
dismiss the complaint filed by riot victims.
Vora's affidavit states that "no summons and complaint from the
New York Litigation was delivered to the Indian National Congress Party
in accordance with the Hague Service Convention".
with thanks : IBNLive : LINK for detailed news.
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