New York, USA: A US-based Sikh rights group has filed a lawsuit against the State Department seeking release of documents relating to the Obama administration’s decision to lift the visa ban on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that facilitated his visit to the United States last year.
The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) filed the lawsuit challenging the failure of the State Department to produce documents in response to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking records from June 2013 regarding visa and entry to Modi.
Seeking injunctive relief, the SFJ blames the State Department for “excessive delay” in producing the records relating to Narendra Modi’s entry as sought under the FOIA.
The Department has 60 days to respond to the complaint.
The complaint said around 2005, the State Department had revoked a previously issued visa to Modi.
“Since Narendra Modi has now been allowed to enter the United States, through the FOIA request, the plaintiff seeks the production of all records in possession” (of the State Department) related to his visa and entry into the country, including all correspondence originated or received by the Obama administration.
“It is right of the Americans to know the reasons why the Obama administration, after censuring Narendra Modi for more than a decade, now condones the acts of violence committed by former Chief Minister of Gujarat,” legal adviser to the SFJ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said.