Arvind Kejriwal: A day after the Washington government declared it was “closely monitoring” the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the liquor policy scam, the Ministry of External Affairs called in the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, Gloria Berbena, on Wednesday.
Emphasizing Respect for Sovereignty and Internal Affairs
In an official statement, the Ministry said that it “strongly objected 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,” the statement said.
Assertion of Legal Independence
The Ministry noted that “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 meeting with Berbena at the Ministry lasted over forty minutes, according to the ANI news agency. A representative for the US State Department stated on Tuesday that “we encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal.”
India Protests German Embassy’s Statements on Kejriwal
The events of Wednesday occurred only a few days after the German Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission, Georg Enzweiler, was called by the Ministry of External Affairs to voice a “strong protest” against statements made by a foreign affairs spokesperson in Berlin, who stated that “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 added.
Randhir Jaiswal’s Reaction to Foreign Remarks
External Affairs Ministry’s spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweeted, “We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary. India is a vibrant and robust democracy with rule of law.” “As in all legal cases in the country, and elsewhere in the democratic world, law will take its own course in the instant matter. Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted,” he added.
