India summons US diplomat over US State Department remarks on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest
Amidst international commentary on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Indian government has summoned a United States diplomat for discussions on the matter. The US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission was called to the Ministry of External Affairs’ office in Delhi’s South Block for a 40-minute meeting.
Details of the meeting have not been disclosed; however, this move comes in response to recent comments from the US State Department regarding Kejriwal’s arrest. A State Department spokesperson expressed concern over reports of the Chief Minister’s arrest and urged New Delhi to ensure a fair and timely legal process for the jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader.
The Indian government has strongly reacted to these statements, labeling them as “blatant interference in internal matters” and asserting that they undermine the independence of the Indian judiciary. In response to Germany’s comments, the Indian government summoned the German envoy to express its concerns about the Foreign Office spokesperson’s remarks.
“We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary,” stated the External Affairs Ministry. “Biased assumptions are most unwarranted.”
In the midst of these diplomatic exchanges, Arvind Kejriwal remains in custody after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam. The AAP leader has been sent to jail until March 28, and today, he is appearing in the Delhi High Court to challenge his arrest.
The Enforcement Directorate alleges that the now-defunct liquor policy provided unusually high profit margins for retailers and wholesalers, with a significant portion of the profits allegedly used to fund AAP’s election campaigns.
Meanwhile, the BJP has rejected allegations of using central agencies for political purposes and has defended the actions of the ED in investigating the alleged liquor policy scam.
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