India summons US diplomat over state dept remarks on Kejriwal's arrest

New Delhi: India summoned a senior American diplomat to protest against the US state department’s call for “a fair legal process for arrested Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.”

Ministry of External Affairs officials summoned the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena at its office in South Block, in New Delhi.

"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. 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 said.

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

On March 25, a state department spokesperson told Reuters that the US is closely following reports of the arrest of Kejriwal and encourages a fair legal process.

Earlier, Germany had commented on Kejriwal’s arrest which drew a strong reaction from India which called the remarks “blatant interference in India’s internal matters.”

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Mr Kejriwal was this week sent to jail till March 28. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has rejected the corruption charges.