USA speaks on Arvind Kejriwal again, mentions Congress' frozen accounts

[Suresh Naresh]

USA speaks on Arvind Kejriwal again, mentions Congress' frozen accounts

Washington DC (US): The United States Department of State on March 27 talked about the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and shared that the US follow these actions closely. On March 17, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US’ top diplomat objecting to remarks of State Department Spokesperson about legal proceedings in India, to which Mathew Miller said that the US want to encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes which should not be objected by anyone. Matthew Miller said, “We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues.”

ET Online | Updated: 28 Mar 2024, 08:20AM IST

 

[Suresh Naresh]

US doubles down on Arvind Kejriwal remarks: ‘Don’t think anyone should object...’

The US has reiterated its call for 'fair and transparent legal processes' after India summoned a senior US diplomat for remarks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in the liquor policy case last week.

India Today News Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 28, 2024 12:50 IST
Written By: Vadapalli Nithin Kumar

In Short

* US again calls for transparent legal processes on Delhi CM's arrest

* Mentions Congress's claim of freezing of accounts

* Reaction comes hours after India summons US diplomat

A day after India summoned a US diplomat and objected to remarks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, the United States reiterated its call for "fair, transparent, timely legal processes". US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also said that it was aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities had frozen some of their bank accounts.

"We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. We encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues," Miller said.

Miller was responding to a question during the State Department briefing about India summoning Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena in Delhi, as well as on the freezing of Congress's bank accounts.

"We are also aware of the Congress's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues," Miller said.

When asked about India summoning the US diplomat, Miller refused to make any comment, citing "private diplomatic conversations".

"I'm not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations. But of course, what we have said publicly is what I just said here, that we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes. We don't think anyone should object to that," Miller said.


New Delhi had earlier lodged a strong protest against Washington's "closely monitoring" remark on the arrest of Kejriwal.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had summoned the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena to its office in South Block in Delhi. The meeting lasted for more than 30 minutes.

The MEA later in a statement said, "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," the statement said.

India's legal processes are based on "an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes," the MEA said while underlining that "casting aspersions on that was unwarranted".

India on Saturday (March 23) summoned the German deputy chief of mission in Delhi and lodged a strong protest against that country's foreign ministry's remarks on the arrest of Kejriwal.

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the now scrapped liquor policy case.

(with inputs from agencies)

Published By: Vadapalli Nithin Kumar

Published On: Mar 28, 2024

US doubles down on Arvind Kejriwal remarks: ‘Don’t think anyone should object...’

The US has reiterated its call for 'fair and transparent legal processes' after India summoned a senior US diplomat for remarks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

www.indiatoday.in

 

[KAAFIR]

I think US is playing with fire by commenting on India's internal affairs.
If US and India relations gets in bad shape bcz of some idiots in white house, then US is gonna lose Asia soon. Quad will collapse.

 

[Suresh Naresh]

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

TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Mar 28, 2024, 17:11 IST

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".

Read more at:

http://m.timesofindia.com/articlesh...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 

[Suresh Naresh]

Unacceptable: MEA rebuts US re-flagging comments on Kejriwal, Congress, due process

Late Wednesday evening, hours after India had summoned a senior US diplomat and objected to the State Department’s remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest, the US had reiterated that it “follows these actions closely” and “encourages fair, transparent, timely legal processes”.

Written by Shubhajit Roy
New Delhi | Updated: March 29, 2024 05:19 IST

The AAP's protest march in Delhi against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.(Express File Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

A day after Washington reiterated its comments on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and flagged the need for due process in that and the case related to Congress’s bank accounts, New Delhi said Thursday that these remarks by the US State Department are “unwarranted” and “unacceptable”.

Responding to questions at the weekly briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “As you are aware, yesterday, India has 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.”

“In India, legal processes are driven only by the rule of law,” he said. “Anyone who has similar ethos, especially fellow democracies, should have no difficulty in appreciating this fact.”

He added: “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.”

Late Wednesday evening, hours after India had summoned a senior US diplomat and objected to the State Department’s remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest, the US had reiterated that it “follows these actions closely” and “encourages fair, transparent, timely legal processes”.

“We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal,” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. “We are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues.”

Miller was responding to a question on India summoning the US diplomat over comments on Kejriwal’s arrest, and the freezing of the Congress’s bank accounts and Amnesty International’s statement that the crackdown on the Opposition. “With respect to your first question (summoning of a diplomat), I’m not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations but, of course, what we have said publicly is what I just said from here, that we encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We don’t think anyone should object to that,” he said.

On Wednesday, the MEA had summoned senior US diplomat Gloria Berbena, who heads the public affairs section at the US Embassy, days after summoning the German deputy chief of mission, Georg Enzweiler, to lodge a strong protest against the German Foreign Ministry’s remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest.

On Tuesday, Reuters had reported that the US State Department spokesperson, responding to an emailed query, said: “We encourage a fair, transparent and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal.”

This is the third time in the last two weeks that India hit back at the US. Responding to criticism from Washington on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Delhi had said on March 15 that it was an “internal matter”. Saying that the CAA “supports human rights”, the MEA spokesperson had said: “As regards the US State Department’s statement on the implementation of CAA, we are of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed and unwarranted.”

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 28-03-2024 at 16:37 IST

https://indianexpress.com/article/i...vt-on-us-remarks-on-kejriwals-arrest-9238192/

 

[Suresh Naresh]

US Advocates 'Fair' Process On Congress Bank Accounts

TOI News Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM |
Mar 28, 2024, 06:41

In response to India's strong objections over comments regarding the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the United States emphasized its stance on advocating for fair and transparent legal processes. "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal," said US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller, amidst rising diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Washington's comments came after India summoned a senior US diplomat to express its discontent over remarks perceived as intrusive into its internal affairs. The diplomatic stir revolves around the arrest of Kejriwal, implicated in a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy 'scam', and allegations against the Indian tax authorities for freezing the Congress party's bank accounts.

“We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues," Miller said, reaffirming the US's position on ensuring justice and fairness in legal proceedings.

The diplomatic row highlights concerns over the sovereignty and independence of India's judiciary, with the ministry of external affairs (MEA) defending its legal system. "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 said, responding to the US's public statements.

The meeting between acting deputy chief of mission Gloria Berbena and MEA officials lasted over 30 minutes, marking a significant moment of diplomatic engagement. This incident follows a similar summons issued to the German Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, objecting to remarks made by their foreign office spokesperson on Kejriwal's arrest, which India regarded as an interference in its judicial process.

As the US and Germany express their expectations for a fair trial and adherence to democratic principles, India stands firm on its judicial independence, signaling a delicate balance between international diplomacy and national sovereignty.

(With inputs from agencies)

US advocates 'fair' process on Congress bank accounts | India News - Times of India

India News: "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[Baadil]

I think US is playing with fire by commenting on India's internal affairs.
If US and India relations gets in bad shape bcz of some idiots in white house, then US is gonna lose Asia soon. Quad will collapse.

India wasn't playing with fire?
NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - An Indian government official directed an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on U.S. soil, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday, in announcing charges against a man accused of orchestrating the attempted murder.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Nikhil Gupta, 52, worked with the Indian government employee, whose responsibilities included security and intelligence, on the plot to assassinate the New York City resident who advocated for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India.


However, US hypocrisy in violation of its own self-proclaimed values has been laid bare for Pakistanis.

 

[Suresh Naresh]

In U.S. media:

India's Congress Bemoans 'Tax Terrorism' After Second Tax Notice

By Reuters
March 29, 2024

REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of India's main opposition Congress party addresses his supporters in a public meeting during Rahul's 66-day long "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra", or Unite India Justice March, in Jhalod town, Gujarat state, India, March 7, 2024. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo

By Shilpa Jamkhandikar

MUMBAI (Reuters) -India's main opposition party said on Friday it had been asked to pay an additional 18.2 billion rupees ($218 million) in taxes, which it called an attempt by the tax department to financially cripple it weeks before a national parliamentary election.

Calling the latest notice from the Income Tax Department "tax terrorism", Congress treasurer Ajay Maken told reporters the party would fight the demand in court.

India will vote in seven phases between April 19 and June 1 in an election Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to win and secure a record-equalling third straight term.

"The law is on our side, we have no doubt about it, but by the time we get relief, elections will be over," Maken said.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case on Monday, he added.

A tax department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday, which is a public holiday. The tax department has said it cannot comment on individual tax notices as they are confidential.

A source familiar with the tax dispute said income tax assessments of Congress were reopened for seven years following searches in April 2019 and those proceedings were due to get time-barred on March 31 this year under tax laws.

The Congress had violated tax exemption laws, had been given several opportunities to reply to notices and the tax department's action against the party had been backed by court rulings, the source said.

Congress, which has been ruled by the Gandhi-Nehru family, was once India's most dominant political party and has accused Modi of trying to "cripple it financially" before the elections through the tax department.

Last month, the party said the authorities froze some of its bank accounts pending a tax case that dates back to 2018-19 involving 1.35 billion rupees, and its bid to contest this in court was dismissed.

Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said that the tax case was not politically motivated.

Asked how much the party would be left with to contest the election after the two tax demands, Maken said: "You think there will be anything left after this?"

Congress has ruled India for 54 of its 76 years since independence from Britain, but it has struggled to win over voters since Modi swept to power in 2014.

($1 = 83.3370 Indian rupees)

(Additional reporting by Nikunj Ohri in New Delhi; Editing by YP Rajesh and Miral Fahmy)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-03-29/indias-congress-says-facing-tax-terrorism-after-second-tax-notice

 

[Suresh Naresh]

India-US war of words over Arvind Kejriwal's arrest intensifies

Synopsis

The dispute between India and the US intensified on Thursday regarding the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemning the latest comments from the US State Department as unwarranted and completely unacceptable.

By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, ET Bureau
Last Updated: Mar 29, 2024, 12:14:00 AM IST

War of words between India and the US escalated on Thursday over the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, with MEA describing the latest comments by the state department on AAP chief as unwarranted and completely unacceptable.

A day after serving the demarche, India emphasised that the fresh remarks by the state department on Kejriwal's arrest were unwarranted and "any such external imputation on our electoral and legal processes is completely unacceptable".

"As you are aware, yesterday (Wednesday), 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," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said hours after fresh comments.

"The recent remarks by the state department are unwarranted. Any such external imputation on our electoral and legal processes is completely unacceptable," the MEA spokesperson said.

"India is proud of its independent and robust democratic institutions. We are committed to protect them from any form of undue external influences," Jaiswal said, adding, "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."

After the Indian demarche, a US state department official on Wednesday said that it encouraged "fair, transparent, timely legal processes" and "we don't think anyone should object to that". "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal," US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

"We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues."

However, the war of words may not impact the big picture of the Indo-US relationship, with the foreign secretary planning to travel to Washington in April. A review meeting of iCET is being planned here, also in April, between two NSAs.

India-US war of words over Arvind Kejriwal's arrest intensifies

The dispute between India and the US intensified on Thursday regarding the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemning the latest comments from the US State Department as unwarranted and completely unacceptable.

m.economictimes.com

 

[SoulSpokesman]

Coming from a country which has a notoriously opaque electoral system; and where at least two Presidential elections have been stolen in the recent past (2000 and 2020), it is quite rich.

Regards

 

[Suresh Naresh]

After US, Germany, now UN reacts to Delhi CM Kejriwal’s arrest: ‘Hope everyone’s rights are protected’

The United Nations has said that everyone's rights are protected in India where Lok Sabha elections are upcoming and citizens are able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair.

By: Express Web Desk
Updated: March 29, 2024 15:25 IST

AAP MLAs wearing Kejriwal cutouts protest at the Delhi Assembly in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

At a time when the US and Germany have reacted to the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying that they “encouraged fair, transparent, timely legal processes”, a spokesperson of the United Nations has also weighed in on the matter, saying that he hoped “everyone’s rights are protected in India”.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said, “What we very much hope that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone’s rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair.” Dujarric made the remarks while responding to a question on the “political unrest” in India in the wake of Kejriwal’s arrest and freezing of Congress party’s bank accounts.

The US, despite strong objection from India and its diplomat being summoned, has said that it “follows these actions closely” and “encourages fair, transparent, timely legal processes”. “We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues,” the US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said.

On Friday, Sebastian Fischer, spokesperson for Germany’s foreign office, had said: “We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case.”

The External Affairs Ministry has strongly objected to comments from both the countries, reiterating that it was an internal matter. The MEA had also summoned senior US diplomat Gloria Berbena, who heads the public affairs section at the US Embassy, days after summoning the German deputy chief of mission, Georg Enzweiler, to lodge a strong protest against the German Foreign Ministry’s remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest.

This is the second time in the last two weeks that India hit back at the US. Responding to criticism from Washington on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Delhi had said on March 15 that it was an “internal matter”.

On the other hand, this is the third face-off between the German Foreign Ministry and the MEA in the last three years over the judicial actions of Indian opposition leaders and civil society.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 29-03-2024 at 10:39 IST

After US, Germany, now UN reacts to Delhi CM Kejriwal’s arrest: ‘Hope everyone’s rights are protected’

The United Nations has said that everyone's rights are protected in India where Lok Sabha elections are upcoming and citizens are able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair.

indianexpress.com

 

[Suresh Naresh]

After Germany & US, UN weighs in on Kejriwal arrest, Congress tax woes

A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Thursday called for 'protection of political and civil rights' ahead of India's general election.

PIA KRISHNANKUTTY
29 March, 2024 12:41 pm IST

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Rouse Avenue Court on 28th March | Representative image | PTI

New Delhi: The United Nations (UN) has weighed in on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of the Congress’s bank accounts, urging the Narendra Modi government to ensure protection of political and civil rights.

During a press briefing Thursday, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, was asked about rights groups accusing India of a crackdown on the Opposition ahead of the national elections, citing Kejriwal’s arrest and the Congress’s financial challenges.

“What we very much hope (is) that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone’s rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair,” he said.

This comes days after India summoned senior diplomats from the US and German embassies in New Delhi, after their countries expressed concern over these developments ahead of the polls.

The US Department of State has commented on Kejriwal’s arrest twice, eliciting an equal number of vehement protests from India. On Tuesday, a spokesperson from the department called for a “fair” and “transparent” legal process in Kejriwal’s case, while responding to a query from Reuters. “We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal,” it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) took strong exception to this and summoned the acting deputy chief of Mission of the US Embassy in India, Gloria Berbena, to its office in South Block for a 30 minute-meeting. At the time, India warned countries against “casting aspersions” on its legal processes.

On Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said at a press briefing that Washington was “closely monitoring” Kejriwal’s arrest and the Congress’s claim that some of its bank accounts were frozen to impede its poll campaign. Hours later, the MEA called the remarks “unwarranted” and “unacceptable”.

Last week, a spokesperson for the German federal foreign ministry, had said during a press conference: “We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case.”

Hours later, New Delhi summoned the deputy chief of mission of the German embassy, Georg Enzweiler, and “conveyed” its strong protest against Berlin’s comments.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 21 March and has been accused of being the “kingpin” of a now-scrapped liquor policy “scam” of 2021-22.

(Edited by Tikli Basu)

After Germany & US, UN weighs in on Kejriwal arrest, Congress tax woes

A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Thursday called for 'protection of political and civil rights' ahead of India's general election.

theprint.in

 

[Suresh Naresh]

UN airs ‘rights’ concern over Arvind Kejriwal' arrest, Income Tax department action on Congress

The spokesperson for the office Stephane Dujarric said: 'We very much hope that in India, that in any country, that is having elections, everyone’s rights are protected including political and civil rights and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair'

Representational image
File picture

Anita Joshua
New Delhi | Published 30.03.24, 08:28 AM

After Germany and the US, the United Nations has been drawn into commenting on the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of Congress accounts by the income tax department.

Asked how the United Nations secretary-general perceived the "political unrest" in India in the context of the two developments, the spokesperson for the office Stephane Dujarric said: "We very much hope that in India, that in any country, that is having elections, everyone’s rights are protected including political and civil rights and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair.’’

For nearly 24 hours after Dujarric said this at Friday’s briefing, India did not react to the comment.

In the case of Germany and the US, the external affairs ministry had summoned their diplomats and pushed back arguing that such interference in domestic politics was uncalled for. In the case of the US, it proved to be counter-productive as Washington stuck to its guns, drawing further attention to India’s domestic politics overseas.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/united-nations-airs-rights-concern-over-arvind-kejriwal-arrest-income-tax-action-on-congress/cid/2009946

 

[Suresh Naresh]

After Germany & US, UN weighs in on Kejriwal arrest, Congress tax woes

A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Thursday called for 'protection of political and civil rights' ahead of India's general election.

PIA KRISHNANKUTTY
29 March, 2024 12:41 pm IST

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Rouse Avenue Court on 28th March | Representative image | PTI

New Delhi: The United Nations (UN) has weighed in on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of the Congress’s bank accounts, urging the Narendra Modi government to ensure protection of political and civil rights.

During a press briefing Thursday, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, was asked about rights groups accusing India of a crackdown on the Opposition ahead of the national elections, citing Kejriwal’s arrest and the Congress’s financial challenges.

“What we very much hope (is) that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone’s rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair,” he said.

This comes days after India summoned senior diplomats from the US and German embassies in New Delhi, after their countries expressed concern over these developments ahead of the polls.

The US Department of State has commented on Kejriwal’s arrest twice, eliciting an equal number of vehement protests from India. On Tuesday, a spokesperson from the department called for a “fair” and “transparent” legal process in Kejriwal’s case, while responding to a query from Reuters. “We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal,” it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) took strong exception to this and summoned the acting deputy chief of Mission of the US Embassy in India, Gloria Berbena, to its office in South Block for a 30 minute-meeting. At the time, India warned countries against “casting aspersions” on its legal processes.

On Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said at a press briefing that Washington was “closely monitoring” Kejriwal’s arrest and the Congress’s claim that some of its bank accounts were frozen to impede its poll campaign. Hours later, the MEA called the remarks “unwarranted” and “unacceptable”.

Last week, a spokesperson for the German federal foreign ministry, had said during a press conference: “We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case.”

Hours later, New Delhi summoned the deputy chief of mission of the German embassy, Georg Enzweiler, and “conveyed” its strong protest against Berlin’s comments.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 21 March and has been accused of being the “kingpin” of a now-scrapped liquor policy “scam” of 2021-22.

(Edited by Tikli Basu)

After Germany & US, UN weighs in on Kejriwal arrest, Congress tax woes

A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Thursday called for 'protection of political and civil rights' ahead of India's general election.

theprint.in

 

[Suresh Naresh]

Encourage fair transparent legal proceedings US on Kejriwal's arrest

PTI
Updated: March 28, 2024 00:11 IST

By Yoshita Singh

New York, Mar 27 (PTI) After India summoned a senior US diplomat to lodge a protest over remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Washington on Wednesday stressed that it encourages fair, transparent, timely legal processes and “we don't think anyone should object to that".

“We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Miller was responding to a question during the State Department briefing over India summoning Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena in New Delhi earlier in the day as well as on freezing of Congress party’s bank accounts.

“We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues.

“With respect to your first question, I'm not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations, but of course, what we have said publicly is what I just said from here, that we encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We don't think anyone should object to that. We’ll make the same thing clear privately,” Miller said.

Ministry of External Affairs officials summoned the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena at its office in South Block in Delhi and lodged a strong protest against a US State Department official’s remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest.

The meeting lasted for more than 30 minutes.

Reports suggested that a US State Department official had said that Washington “encouraged a fair, transparent and timely legal process for chief minister Kejriwal”.

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy ‘scam’.

The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 which was later scrapped.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said Delhi takes 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," the ministry said.

"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 said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Encourage fair transparent legal proceedings US on Kejriwal's arrest - The Week