NEW DELHI: United States has weighed in on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. Washington has encouraged India for “fair and transparent legal process” for the jailed Delhi CM.
“We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters. Earlier, Germany had commented on Kejriwal’s arrest which drew a strong reaction from India which called the remarks “blatant interference in India’s internal matters.”
The US government is monitoring reports of Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and has encouraged its Indian counterpart to ensure “a fair, transparent, and timely legal process” for the jailed Delhi Chief Minister and opposition leader, a State Department spokesperson told Reuters this week.
The US’ response comes days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that the Aam Aadmi Party leader, like any other Indian citizen facing charges, is entitled to a fair and impartial trial. “We assume and expect that standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case,” a German government spokesperson said Friday.
The Indian government reacted strongly to the comment, summoning the German envoy and labelling the Foreign Office spokesperson’s remark “blatant interference in internal matters”. “We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary,” the External Affairs Ministry said, “Biased assumptions are most unwarranted.”
Asked about India’s protest to Germany, the State Department spokesperson told Reuters, “We refer you to the German Foreign Ministry for comment on their discussions with the Indian government.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has not yet reacted to the US State Department.
The Chief Minister’s arrest has triggered furious protests in Delhi, with the AAP joined by opposition parties, including INDIA bloc allies Congress, the Trinamool of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, in condemning the agency’s action. In Delhi on Tuesday several AAP workers were detained by police as they attempted to march on the PM’s home. The BJP, meanwhile, took out a mega march of its own to press for Mr Kejriwal to quit.
The Enforcement Directorate took Mr Kejriwal into custody last week – in dramatic circumstances after a Delhi court refused protection from arrest – following a late-night raid at his residence. He was sent to custody of the central agency for seven days; i.e., till Thursday.
Mr Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam that has roiled the AAP, and the national political landscape, less than a month before the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Meanwhile, The Delhi government on Tuesday said that CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy-linked money laundering case, will not affect public services, social welfare schemes, and subsidies.
“All public services, social welfare schemes and subsidies currently given by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi shall continue uninterrupted,” said Delhi Government’s Secretary of Planning Department, Niharika Rai.“People should not be misled by any fear-mongering and malicious disinformation in this regard,” Rai said in a statement while appealing people to not fall prey to “rumor mongers, who would try to take advantage of the situation arising from the CM’s arrest.

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