India strongly objects to the remarks of the US State Department

New Delhi, Mar 27: India has voiced strong objections to comments made by representatives of the US regarding legal proceedings within the country.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, issued a statement expressing India's discontent with remarks made by the US State Department spokesperson.

Jaiswal emphasised the importance of diplomatic respect for the sovereignty and internal affairs of other nations, particularly among fellow democracies. He highlighted that India's legal processes are overseen by an independent judiciary committed to fair and timely outcomes, and any insinuation otherwise is unwarranted.

“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 the 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,” added MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

The controversy arose following comments from both the US and Germany concerning the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The US Department of State called for a "fair," "transparent," and "timely" legal process for Kejriwal, echoing sentiments expressed earlier by Germany regarding the case.

India responded promptly to what it perceived as unwelcome interference in its judicial process. The MEA earlier summoned the deputy chief of mission of the German embassy in India to convey a strong protest against remarks made by a German federal foreign ministry spokesperson during a press conference. India asserted that such comments amounted to interference and undermined the independence of its judiciary.

The arrest of Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a case related to a now-withdrawn excise policy in New Delhi has sparked international attention. The ED alleges that Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received kickbacks amounting to Rs 100 crore, which were purportedly used to fund election campaigns in Gujarat and Punjab.

Kejriwal was remanded to six days in custody with the ED until March 28 by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge, Kaveri Baweja.