- Saturday, April 27, 2024
Earlier in March, New Delhi reacted strongly after Washington expressed concern over the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
By: Shubham Ghosh
AFTER Germany, it is the United States. Indian government officials on Wednesday (27) spoke to a top American diplomat in connection to the remarks made by a spokesperson of the US state department on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi and an opposition leader in the country, a month before the national elections.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) summoned Gloria Berbena, the US’s acting deputy chief of mission, at its office in New Delhi and spoke to her for 40 minutes. It released a statement soon afterwards in which it warned of “unhealthy precedents and against unwarranted aspersions”.
“States are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents,” the MEA said.
Read: After Germany, US seeks ‘fair’ process in India opposition leader arrest
#WATCH | The Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi summoned the US' Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena, today. The meeting lasted for approximately 40 minutes. pic.twitter.com/ONLUCI9Hnc
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2024
“India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted,” the statement added.
On Monday (25), the US state department said it was closely watching reports on Kejriwal’s arrest and expected a ‘free and fair’ legal process in the case. The remark came just two days after the Indian government summoned the German deputy chief of mission in New Delhi after the country’s foreign office spoke on the case saying the Aam Aadmi Party is entitled to a fair trial.
India found such statements as interference in its judicial process.
Read: EXCLUSIVE: ‘Electoral bonds row, Kejriwal arrest may not help Modi opposition in 2024 elections’
“We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary,” the MEA said.
It is the second time in March that India has reacted to remarks made by the US related to its affairs. After Washington expressed concerns over the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act by the Indian government, the latter called it “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted”.
Kejriwal, one of the major faces of Indian opposition aiming to dethrone prime minister Narendra Modi, was arrested by India’s financial crime-fighting agency, Enforcement Directorate, last week over an alleged liquor policy scam that triggered furious protests from the opposition.
While the AAP has been accused of using money received from bribes to fund its poll campaigning, the opposition have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of targeting them ahead of the big elections starting April 19.
