'Encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes': US after India summons diplomat over remarks on Kejriwal's arrest

A day after India summoned US diplomat over comments on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and freezing of Congress bank accounts, the US on Wednesday said that they are following these actions closely and Washington encourages fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues.

#WATCH | On India summons US diplomat over comments on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest and freezing of Congress bank accounts, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller says, "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.… pic.twitter.com/dWSDumsZXf

— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2024

Addressing the reporters on Wednesday US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, said, “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. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues.”

On India summoning US diplomat and the conversations on the issues, he said, “…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.”

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Earlier on Wednesday, India took a “strong objection” to the remarks of the US State Department Spokesperson about certain legal proceedings in India.

“In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of 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,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

The MEA defended India’s legal system, emphasising its independence and dedication to impartial and expedient judgements.

“India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary that is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted,” the foreign ministry statement read.

On , US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena was seen leaving the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters. The meeting lasted for approximately 40 minutes.

Moreover, last week, India summoned the German Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi to lodge a strong protest against their foreign office spokesperson’s remarks on the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Making a strong statement against the German Foreign Office spokesperson’s remarks, India said that it sees these remarks as interference in India’s ‘judicial process’ and ‘undermining the independence’ of the Indian judiciary, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

On Friday, a spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry, when questioned on the arrest of Kejriwal, said that he was entitled to a fair trial.

“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 spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry had said.

Kejriwal was on last Friday, remanded to ED custody till 28 March, a day after he was arrested by the probe agency for alleged money laundering in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

With inputs from agencies