The Hindu : National : Congress seeks more time to respond to 1984 riot charges

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National

Congress seeks more time to respond to 1984 riot charges

New York: The Congress party has sought time till June 24 from a United States court to respond to charges of its “conspiring, aiding and abetting” in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in a case filed by a community group.

Adam Finkel of New York-based law firm Sabharwal Nordin&Finkel, which is also counsel for Union Minister Kamal Nath, also wrote to Judge Robert Sweet requesting a conference.

Earlier this month, a New York federal district court summoned the Congress in a civil petition filed by New York-based organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) that charged the party with “conspiring, aiding, abetting in and carrying out organised attacks on the Sikh population of India” in 1984.

“Will be opposed”

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser to the SFJ, said the group would oppose the request for extra time.

“The Congress' request for time to file response is part of its plan to stall the case, delay the prosecution and tire out the witnesses and victims, as it has done for the past 26 years.”

Mr. Pannun added that a response was expected by April 1. The case was filed last year in New York. — PTI

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