Will handle issue procedurally: India on summons against Modi

The MEA had earlier expressed its disappointment over the summons and termed the allegations to be baseless

India has reacted cautiously to the summons issued against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots and said that it will handle the issue procedurally.

"The Indian sovereign representative is ring-fenced. There is no issue of anyone serving any summons on India's sovereign representative. I think the US state department has also clarified this today," said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

"As far as that process which has been started, let me assure you that we will handle that procedurally and action is underway on that," he added.

The White House has said that sitting heads of government enjoy immunity from lawsuit from American courts while in the United States.

"Sitting heads of government enjoy personal inviability while in the United States which means they cannot be personally handed or delivered papers to begin the process of a lawsuit," said White House Spokesman Josh Earnest.

The MEA had earlier expressed its disappointment over the summons issued against Prime Minister Modi and termed the allegations to be baseless.

"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," said Akbaruddin.

"This case is a frivolous and malicious attempt to distract attention from the visit of the Prime Minister to the United States General Assembly and a bilateral summit with the President of the United States," he added.

Prime Minister Modi, who is presently on a five-day visit to the US, is scheduled to address the 69th session of the UNGA and hold bilateral talks with President Barack Obama.