India has voiced strong objections to comments made by a spokesperson from the US State Department regarding legal proceedings in the country, specifically concerning the recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate.
The Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, emphasized the importance of diplomatic respect for sovereignty and internal affairs, particularly among fellow democracies. Jaiswal remarked, “In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. This responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.”
Furthermore, Jaiswal asserted that India’s legal processes are grounded in an independent judiciary committed to impartial and prompt outcomes. He stated, “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 US State Department’s spokesperson had previously commented on Kejriwal’s arrest, expressing a desire for a fair legal process. This prompted India to summon a senior US diplomat to convey its response.
This recent diplomatic exchange follows a similar instance where India defended its Citizenship (Amendment) Act as an internal matter in response to criticism from Washington. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson reiterated this stance, labeling the US State Department’s statement on the implementation of CAA as “misplaced, misinformed and unwarranted.”
Germany also weighed in on Kejriwal’s arrest, expressing concern and emphasizing the importance of upholding judicial independence and democratic principles. India responded by summoning the German deputy chief of mission in New Delhi and lodging a protest against the remarks made by the German foreign ministry.
This confrontation with Germany marks the third instance in the past three years where Indian authorities have clashed with the German foreign ministry over perceived interference in Indian judicial proceedings against opposition and civil society figures. Indian officials stressed to the German deputy envoy that such remarks constitute interference in the country’s judicial process and that biased assumptions are unwelcome.
India has firmly defended its legal processes and sovereignty against perceived external interference, particularly regarding the recent arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, while also pushing back against comments from both the United States and Germany.
