US closely following court case against Kamal Nath

Washington, Jan 25 : The US has said that it is still reviewing the question about Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath's diplomatic immunity clarification being sought by the Indian Government.

"Well, we are following closely a civil complaint involving Minister Kamal Nath. This is still a legal process that is unfolding. It's unclear whether there''s any live action against Minister Nath and what its content might be," State Department spokesman P J Crowley said.

"I think the plaintiffs have until February 9 to file an amended complaint. The immunity question remains under review here at the State Department, and we have not made any determination at this point," Crowley said.

The clarification was sought by the Indian Embassy following the case filed against him by an NGO, Sikhs for Justice, in April last year.

In a statement Sikhs for Justice said that an amended complaint will be filed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case being pursued in a New York federal district court against Nath.

Gurpatwant S Pannun of Sikhs for Justice, in a statement issued Jan 23 had claimed that the Department of State has declined to intervene.

The United States is looking forward to working with him in his new capacity as the Urban Development Minister.

"As Commerce Minister and more recently as Roads and Highways Minister, Kamal Nath has been a strong advocate and an important partner of the United States in deepening our trade and economic relationship," the State Department official said on Jan 23.

"We look forward to continuing to work closely with him in his new capacity as Minister for Urban Development, particularly as we seek explore opportunities to develop new partnerships between our countries'' cities," the official said.

PTI