New Delhi: Following India’s summoning of an American diplomat over their comments regarding the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, the US reiterated its stance on Wednesday, emphasizing the need for “fair, transparent, timely legal processes.”
In response to questions about India’s summoning of Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, “We continue to closely monitor these developments, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.”
The meeting at the foreign ministry’s South Block office, lasting nearly 40 minutes, saw India expressing strong objection to the US remarks concerning Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest. Miller also addressed queries regarding the frozen bank accounts of the Congress party, stating, “We are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations regarding tax authorities freezing some of their bank accounts in a manner that may hinder effective campaigning in the upcoming elections.” He reiterated the US stance, advocating for “fair, transparent, and timely legal processes” for all such issues.
Regarding diplomatic conversations, Miller refrained from disclosing details but reiterated the public stance, saying, “We encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We believe nobody should object to that.”
Mr. Kejriwal’s recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) marked the third instance of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, after Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, being taken into custody in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.
On Tuesday, the US State Department had expressed its monitoring of Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest and urged New Delhi to ensure “a fair and timely legal process” for the detained Chief Minister.
India responded critically, cautioning against “unhealthy precedents” and emphasizing respect for sovereignty and internal affairs, particularly among fellow democracies.
The US comments followed similar remarks from Germany’s Foreign Office, which had emphasized Mr. Kejriwal’s entitlement to a fair and impartial trial. In response, the Indian government summoned the German envoy, denouncing their statement as “blatant interference in internal matters.”
The excise policy, aimed at reforming the liquor business in Delhi, was scrapped after a probe was ordered into alleged irregularities by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The ED alleges that bribe money from the policy was used to fund AAP’s election campaigns, referring to Mr. Kejriwal as a “conspirator” in the case.
Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest, just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, has sparked protests from the opposition.
