NEW DELHI: India on Thursday summoned US’ Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena over remarks on
Enforcement Directorate
arrest of
Delhi chief minister
Arvind Kejriwal. The meeting lasted for approximately 40 minutes.
“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,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
“This responsibility is even more so in 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,” the MEA added.
This comes a day after the
United States
responded to the arrest of Kejriwal, advocating for a fair legal process in the case. In a statement, a spokesperson from the US state department had highlighted the importance of ensuring fairness, transparency, and timeliness in Kejriwal’s legal proceedings.
This marked the second international commentary on Kejriwal’s arrest, following Germany’s response last week.
Germany
had emphasized the right to a fair and impartial trial for Kejriwal, with George Enzweiler, the deputy head of mission of the German embassy, being summoned by India’s ministry of external affairs to officially express their concerns.
Kejriwal’s arrest stems from allegations of corruption related to the excise policy case. A Delhi court has extended his custody until March 28, following his arrest for corruption in the liquor policy.