NEW DELHI, India: India on Wednesday summoned a top US diplomat after Washington said it was “closely watching” events following the government jailed a senior opposition leader, Arvind Kejriwal just weeks ahead of parliamentary elections.
The US State Department had asked India to ensure a “fair, transparent, and timely legal process” for the jailed senior opposition leader and chief minister of the capital Delhi, who was arrested last week in connection with a long-running corruption investigation.
“We take strong objection to the remarks,” a statement issued by India’s foreign ministry said. “In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others,”, it added.
Local media showed senior United States diplomat Gloria Berbena entering country’s foreign ministry building.
When asked about the Indian reaction, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, in Washington, repeated the same lines. In response to a question, he mentioned the main opposition Congress’s complaints about the freezing of bank accounts over alleged late filing of tax returns.
He told media that the US was also aware of the tax authorities freezing some of the opposition’s bank accounts in a manner that, he said, will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections.
“We encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues,” he added.
The US has generally been careful in remarks about India despite concerns raised by rights groups about the country’s direction under PM Modi, a Hindu nationalist as the US sees India as a growing partner.
The foreign ministry had also summoned Germany’s deputy ambassador on Saturday after last week, Germany also raised its concerns about the arrest of Kejriwal. He is a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to compete against Modi in elections beginning next month.
Kejriwal is accused of receiving bribes while issuing liquor licences to private companies.
He has denied the charges while his supporters say the arrest is meant to sideline challengers to Modi before next month’s election.
