US Speaks Again On Arvind Kejriwal Arrest And Congress Party Frozen Accounts

Defense News ,India :-  The US State Department has spoken up again, saying India needs to have fair and transparent legal procedures. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, mentioned this when asked about India calling in Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, over remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Miller said they are closely watching these events, including the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. He mentioned this in response to questions about India's summoning of Gloria Berbena. The meeting at India's foreign ministry went on for about 40 minutes, during which India strongly objected to the US comments about Kejriwal's arrest.

Miller also commented on the freezing of bank accounts belonging to the Congress party. He acknowledged the allegations made by the Congress party about tax authorities freezing their accounts, which could make it difficult for them to campaign effectively in upcoming elections. He stressed the importance of fair, transparent, and timely legal processes for all these matters.

Regarding private diplomatic discussions, Miller declined to provide details but reiterated the US stance on fair legal processes. He emphasized that nobody should oppose fair and transparent legal procedures.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam. He's the third leader from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to be taken into custody, following Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh.

The US State Department, on Tuesday, expressed concern about Kejriwal's arrest and urged India to ensure a fair and timely legal process for him. India responded by warning of "unhealthy precedents," emphasizing that countries should respect each other's sovereignty and internal affairs, especially among fellow democracies. India defended its legal system, stating that it's based on an independent judiciary committed to fair and timely outcomes.

These remarks from the US came shortly after Germany's Foreign Office emphasized Kejriwal's right to a fair trial. This led to India summoning the German envoy, condemning their statement as interference in internal matters.

The liquor excise policy in Delhi was intended to reform the liquor business but was scrapped after an investigation into alleged irregularities. The Enforcement Directorate believes that bribe money from the policy funded AAP's election campaigns and has labeled Kejriwal a "conspirator" in the case.

Kejriwal's arrest, just before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, has sparked protests from the opposition.