Politics

India Protests US State Department Remarks on Kejriwal Arrest, Summons Diplomat

Four days after Germany registered a similar protest, India summoned a top US envoy on Wednesday to voice opposition to the US State Department’s demand for a reasonable legal procedure for Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi who was arrested. The government has taken a “strong objection” to a US State Department spokesperson’s comments regarding legal processes in India, the External Affairs Ministry stated in a statement. Although some with knowledge of the situation indicated that the US acting deputy head of mission Gloria Berbena was called into the external affairs ministry, the statement made no mention of the American diplomat’s summons. States are supposed to respect each other’s internal affairs and sovereignty when engaging in diplomatic relations. This obligation is heightened when dealing with other democratic nations. If not, it might wind up creating unfavorable precedents, according to the statement.

It said that it is unjustified to throw doubt on the independent judiciary that underpins India’s legal systems and is dedicated to providing “objective and timely outcomes.” A State Department spokesman told Reuters on Monday that the US is actively monitoring reports of Kejriwal’s arrest and supports a just legal procedure. Due to his suspected involvement in Delhi’s contentious excise policy for 2021–2022, which was ultimately canceled, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Kejriwal last week. Corrupt practices have been denied by his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The representative for the State Department stated, “We support a just, open, and prompt legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal.”

In an attempt to protest the stance adopted by the German foreign ministry about Kejriwal’s arrest, Georg Enzweiler, the deputy head of mission for Germany, was called to the ministry of External Affairs on Saturday. Germany’s position, Enzweiler was informed, amounted to meddling in India’s legal system. At a press conference on Friday, a representative for the German foreign minister responded to questions over the arrest by saying that Kejriwal has the right to a fair trial, just like anyone else facing charges. “We believe and anticipate that the norms concerning the judiciary’s independence and fundamental democratic values will also be implemented in this instance,” the German representative stated.

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Such statements, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, amounted to “interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary.” Additionally, it stated, “This account’s biased assumptions are completely unfounded.” Kejriwal is facing charges of money laundering and corruption in connection with the implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021–2022, which was later revoked. According to the ED, AAP leaders reportedly got ₹100 crore in bribes related to the excise policy. In charge sheets submitted by the ED, Kejriwal’s name has appeared numerous times. To develop the excise policy, the agency claimed that the accused communicated with Kejriwal.