India strongly opposes US remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest

MUMBAI:

India has strongly objected to the United States’ remarks on the arrest of key opposition leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

New Delhi’s objection came two days after Washington said it was closely monitoring reports of Kejriwal’s arrest and encouraged a fair legal process.

Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rules the national capital territory and the northern state of Punjab, was arrested last week by the federal economic crime agency on corruption charges, weeks before India’s general election was due to go to polls. elections on April 19.

AAP, whose main leaders are all now jailed in connection with the case, says he has been “falsely arrested” in a “rigged case”. The federal government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deny political interference.

“India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary that is committed to objective and timely results. To cast doubt on this is unwarranted,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

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“In diplomacy, states are expected to respect 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,” it said.

Kejriwal’s arrest after the election was called has angered the opposition alliance challenging Modi and attracted international attention.

The US’s comments on Kejriwal followed those of Germany, which said Berlin assumed and expected standards related to judicial independence and basic democratic principles to apply in this case as well.

In response, New Delhi summoned a German envoy to protest the comments. The US deputy chief of mission in New Delhi was also summoned on Wednesday, news agency ANI reported.

India and the US enjoy close strategic ties, and Washington increasingly sees New Delhi as an important partner in its effort to push back China’s growing power globally.