The US State Department, through its spokesperson Matthew Miller, has reiterated the importance of “fair, transparent, timely legal processes” in light of these events. This statement came after India summoned an American diplomat, expressing strong objections to comments made by the US regarding Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest.
A diplomatic dialogue between India and the United States has sparked with the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the controversial liquor policy case has led to significant international attention. The US State Department, through its spokesperson Matthew Miller, has reiterated the importance of “fair, transparent, timely legal processes” in light of these events. This statement came after India summoned an American diplomat, expressing strong objections to comments made by the US regarding Kejriwal’s arrest.
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“We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. 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,”
Miller stated, highlighting the US’s keen observation of the unfolding political and legal scenarios in India.
On Wednesday the dialogue between the two nations took a formal turn when Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, was summoned to the foreign ministry’s South Block office. The meeting, lasting nearly 40 minutes, underscored India’s discomfort with the US’s public commentary on its internal legal proceedings.
Miller, addressing the concerns raised about the Congress party’s ability to campaign due to frozen bank accounts, emphasized the US’s stance on advocating for “fair, transparent and timely legal processes” across all these matters.
“With respect to your first question, I’m not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations, but of course, what we have said publicly is what I just said from here, that we encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We don’t think anyone should object to that,”
he elaborated, reinforcing the US’s position on the importance of democratic legal processes.
The arrest of Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) marks him as the third leader from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to be detained in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. This move has not only drawn criticism within India but has also attracted international scrutiny, with the US State Department calling for a “fair and timely legal process” for the jailed Chief Minister.
India’s response to the US’s remarks was firm, emphasizing the sovereignty and independence of its judicial processes.
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“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 foreign ministry stated, highlighting the expectation of mutual respect among democratic nations.
This incident comes on the heels of similar international concerns expressed by Germany, which also advocated for a fair and impartial trial for Kejriwal. The Indian government’s strong reaction to these international comments, including summoning the German envoy, reflects the sensitive nature of diplomatic interactions concerning internal legal matters.
German Foreign Ministry had said through its spokesperson,
“We have taken note, that India is a democratic country. We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of Judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case. Like anyone facing accusations, Mr Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial, this includes he can make use of all available legal avenues without restrictions. The presumption of innocence is a central element of the rule of law and must apply to him.”
The controversy surrounding the excise policy, which aimed to revamp Delhi’s liquor business but was later scrapped due to alleged irregularities, has led to significant political and legal turmoil. The ED’s labeling of Kejriwal as a “conspirator” in the case and his arrest ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election have ignited protests and debates on the fairness and transparency of legal processes in India.
As the situation unfolds, the international community’s call for adherence to democratic principles and fair legal proceedings underscores the global attention on India’s internal affairs and the importance of maintaining diplomatic decorum while addressing such sensitive issues.
