The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): India has expressed strong disapproval of the comments made by the United States concerning the arrest of prominent opposition leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday.
New Delhi’s objection came in response to Washington’s statement two days earlier, in which it said it was closely monitoring reports of Kejriwal’s arrest and encouraged a fair legal process.
Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in power in the national capital territory and the northern state of Punjab, was arrested last week by the federal financial crime-fighting agency on allegations of corruption, just weeks before India is set to begin voting in the general elections on April 19.
AAP, whose top leaders are now all in custody in connection with the case, maintains that Kejriwal has been “falsely arrested” in a “fabricated case”. The federal government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deny any political interference.
In its statement, the Indian foreign ministry asserted, “India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted.” It further added, “In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. This responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.”
Kejriwal’s arrest, following the announcement of elections, has sparked outrage among the opposition alliance challenging Modi and has drawn international attention.
The U.S. comments on Kejriwal came after similar remarks by Germany, which said Berlin assumes and expects that the standards relating to the independence of the judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case.
In response to the German comments, New Delhi summoned a German envoy to protest against the remarks. The acting U.S. deputy chief of mission in New Delhi was also summoned on Wednesday, according to news agency ANI.
India and the U.S. share close, strategic ties, and Washington has increasingly come to view New Delhi as an important partner in its efforts to counter China’s growing global influence.
The Indian government’s strong objection to the U.S. and German comments on Kejriwal’s arrest highlights the sensitivity surrounding the issue and the importance India places on the independence of its judiciary and the principle of non-interference in its internal affairs by foreign nations.