'Completely unacceptable, unwarranted': MEA rejects fresh US remarks on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest
- In Reports
- 08:29 PM, Mar 28, 2024
- Myind Staff
India firmly rejected recent comments made by the US State Department, labeling them as "completely unacceptable." Emphasising that legal processes in the country are strictly governed by the rule of law, India asserted that fellow democracies should respect the sovereignty and internal affairs of other nations.
During a press conference on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed India's stance, stating that any insinuation regarding India's electoral and legal processes is unwarranted. Jaiswal underscored India's pride in its robust and democratic institutions, affirming the nation's commitment to safeguarding them from undue external influence. He emphasised that mutual respect and understanding serve as the foundation of international relations, and countries are expected to honour the sovereignty and internal affairs of others.
The strong response from India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) comes in the wake of the United States standing by its comments regarding the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, despite India summoning a senior US diplomat to express its objections. The US has also commented on the freezing of bank accounts belonging to the Congress party.
On 27th March, Washington reiterated its stance, emphasizing its support for fair, transparent, and timely legal processes, stating that it sees no reason for objection to such processes. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, addressed these matters during a briefing, including India's summoning of Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena in New Delhi and the freezing of Congress party bank accounts. The State Department acknowledged the Congress party's allegations regarding the freezing of their bank accounts and emphasised the need for fair, transparent, and timely legal processes for all such issues.
Miller's comments followed a meeting held the previous day at the office of the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena in South Block, Delhi, where a strong protest was lodged against a US State Department official's remarks concerning Kejriwal's arrest. The meeting extended for over 30 minutes. Previously, the Indian government strongly objected to remarks made by the spokesperson of the US State Department regarding certain legal proceedings in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs emphasised the importance of diplomatic respect for the sovereignty and internal affairs of nations, particularly among democracies, to avoid setting negative precedents. Casting doubt on India's legal processes, which rely on an independent judiciary committed to impartial and prompt outcomes, is unjustified, the MEA stated. Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case related to the excise policy "scam." The case involves alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled.
Image Source: India Narrative
Comments