New Delhi, March 28: US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated on Wednesday the importance of “fair, transparent, timely legal processes” in response to the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Miller emphasized, “We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.”
Regarding India’s summoning of Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, Miller stated, “We are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections.”
He further underscored the US’s stance, stating, “We encourage ‘fair, transparent and timely legal processes’ for each of these issues.”
Referring to the objections raised by India, Miller declined to delve into private diplomatic conversations but reiterated the US’s public position, stating, “We encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We don’t think anyone should object to that.”
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, issued a statement expressing India’s discontent with remarks made by the US State Department spokesperson. Ambassador Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi was also summoned to the MEA office and had a 30-minute meeting with the MEA officials.
Jaiswal emphasised the importance of diplomatic respect for the sovereignty and internal affairs of other nations, particularly among fellow democracies. He highlighted that India’s legal processes are overseen by an independent judiciary committed to fair and timely outcomes, and any insinuation otherwise is unwarranted.
“We take strong objection to the remarks of the Spokesperson of the US State Department about certain legal proceedings in India. In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. This responsibility is even more so in the case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.”
“India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted,” added MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
The controversy arose following comments from both the US and Germany concerning the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The MEA earlier summoned the deputy chief of mission of the German embassy in India to convey a strong protest against remarks made by a German federal foreign ministry spokesperson during a press conference.
India asserted that such comments amounted to interference and undermined the independence of its judiciary.
The arrest of Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a case related to a now-withdrawn excise policy in New Delhi has sparked international attention.
The ED alleges that Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received kickbacks amounting to Rs 100 crore, which were purportedly used to fund election campaigns in Gujarat and Punjab.
Kejriwal was remanded to custody with the ED until March 28 by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge, Kaveri Baweja. The timing of Mr Kejriwal’s arrest, just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, has sparked protests from the opposition and Kejriwal’s political party.