'Undue external influences': India rejects US remarks on Kejriwal arrest, Congress

‘Undue external influences’: India rejects US remarks on Kejriwal arrest, Congress

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday strongly objected to US state department’s second statement on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and also its remarks on freezing of Congress’ bank accounts and said the comments are “unwarranted”.

“India lodged its strong objection and protest with the senior official from the US embassy with regard to the comments made by the US State Department. The recent remarks by the State Department are unwarranted. Any such external imputation on our electoral and legal processes is completely unacceptable,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing a press briefing.

“In India, legal processes are driven only by the rule of law. Anyone who has similar ethos, especially fellow democracies, should have no difficulty in appreciating this fact. India is proud of its independent and robust democratic institutions. We are committed to protect them from any form of undue external influences. Mutual respect and understanding form the foundation of international relations, and states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others,” it added.

India on Wednesday had summoned US’ acting deputy chief of mission Gloria Berbena after the state department had made its first comment on Kejriwal’s arrest.

The US envoy responded to a question on Kejriwal’s arrest and advocated for a fair legal process in the case. In a statement, the envoy highlighted the importance of ensuring fairness, transparency, and timeliness in Kejriwal’s legal proceedings.

“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,” the MEA had said in a statement.

“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 added.

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