India has taken strict action on the comments made by America on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday summoned the acting deputy head of the US Mission in India, Gloria Barbena. The conversation between Indian Foreign Ministry officials and the American diplomat lasted for about 40 minutes.
A statement issued by Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that we strongly object to the comments made by the US State Department spokesperson regarding some legal proceedings in India. In diplomacy any country is expected to respect the sovereignty and internal affairs of other countries. If we are talking about allied democratic countries then this responsibility increases further. Failure to do so will set a wrong example. India's legal processes are based on an independent judiciary committed to taking objective and timely decisions. It is unfair to blame the Indian judiciary.
The Indian Foreign Ministry has summoned the American diplomat at a time when the US State Department spokesperson had said a day earlier that we are keeping an eye on the news of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. America also said that we expect a fair, transparent and timely legal process in the Kejriwal case.
The German Foreign Ministry also commented
However, America is not the first country to comment on Kejriwal's arrest. Earlier, the German Foreign Ministry had also commented on Kejriwal's arrest. Commenting on Kejriwal's arrest, the German Foreign Ministry said that we have noted this. India is a democratic country. We hope that all norms related to the independence of the judiciary and basic democratic principles will be applied in this case also. Kejriwal has every right to a fair hearing.
India objected
India has expressed objection to the German Foreign Ministry's comment on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. German Ambassador Georg Engelweiler told the Indian Foreign Ministry that we view such comments as interference in our judicial process and undermining the independence of the judiciary. India is a vibrant and strong democracy with the rule of law. The way law works in India and other democratic countries. In this case also the law will take its course. It is inappropriate to make biased assumptions in this matter.
ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED from his residence on March 21 after questioning for about two hours. The Rouge Avenue court had sent him to ED custody till March 28 in connection with the investigation into his role in the Delhi liquor policy scam. Even after his arrest, Arvind Kejriwal has not resigned from the post of Chief Minister.