America Chief Minister of New Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has once again expressed concern over the arrest of A day earlier, India had summoned the top US diplomat to protest Washington’s comments on the case against top New Delhi politician and political rival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a press briefing on Wednesday that the Biden administration is closely monitoring the situation in New Delhi, including the prosecution of Kejriwal and the freezing of bank accounts of the opposition Congress Party.
India’s financial crime agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kejriwal, a key opposition figure at the national level and the capital’s chief minister, last week on charges of corruption in the liquor policy case.
This arrest was made while in the country General elections to be held which are Prime Minister Modi There is a big test for the iron grip on the country.
Miller said, ‘We are keeping a close watch on these actions, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that the tax authorities have frozen some of its bank accounts in a manner that will make it difficult to campaign effectively in the upcoming elections, and we are in each of these cases. Encourage fair, transparent and timely legal proceedings.’
The US official was responding to a question raised by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs about the summoning of senior US diplomat Gloria Berbina. Earlier, Washington warned New Delhi to take ‘fair, transparent and timely legal action’ in Kejriwal’s case.
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Miller said that while he would not discuss any private diplomatic discussions, the State Department encourages a “fair, transparent, timely legal process.”
India has expressed displeasure at the repetition of US comments already made public.
According to Miller: ‘We don’t think anyone should object to that, and we will make that point privately.’
In videos released by Indian news agencies, it can be seen that Berbina was summoned to the Foreign Ministry for a meeting that lasted for about 40 minutes.
Last week, Germany’s foreign ministry said it hoped Kejriwal would have a fair and impartial trial.
However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded by saying that it was a blatant interference in the internal affairs of the country.
A Delhi court on Thursday extended the custody of Kejriwal’s Enforcement Directorate till April 1.
Kejriwal is among dozens of politicians facing a crackdown by Modi’s federal government ahead of the April 19 polls to form a new government in India.
Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party has dismissed the allegations against him as a ploy to prevent the popular Delhi politician from contesting the elections.
Kejriwal’s party has announced that he will continue to serve as the Chief Minister of Delhi and the matter will be challenged in court.
Additionally, the Congress party, formerly India’s ruling party and now the main opposition party, said last week that India’s income tax department had frozen its bank accounts as part of Modi’s agenda to ‘kill democracy’. .
Congress leaders say the move will hit the party ‘badly’ as it will have money to spend ahead of a crucial election against Modi.
Modi is likely to return to power for a third term in the general elections.
Washington’s reminder to the Indian government to uphold a free and fair legal process for political opponents comes at a time when it sees Delhi as a key strategic player in its efforts to counter China’s growing influence around the world. And looking as an economic partner.
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2024-10-05 21:18:18
