India summons US diplomat over remarks on New Delhi chief minister’s arrest

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - India on Wednesday summoned a US diplomat and strongly objected to Washington's remarks regarding New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who was arrested in a graft case last week.

“We take strong objection to the remarks of the spokesperson of the US State Department about certain legal proceedings in India,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

An unnamed US State Department spokesperson had said Washington was "monitoring" reports of Kejriwal's arrest, calling on New Delhi to ensure "a fair and timely legal process,” in the case.

Video footage run by local media showed a US diplomat entering the Indian Foreign Ministry in the capital early Wednesday morning.

“In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others,” the ministry said, adding: “This responsibility is even more so in the case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.”

The ministry said India’s legal processes were "based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes.”

“Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted,” it noted.

Weeks ahead of general elections in India, Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in a graft case.

After the arrest of Kejriwal, who is a critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Aam Aadmi Party has been protesting continuously.

A court in Delhi is hearing the bail plea of Kejriwal on Wednesday.

The opposition parties in India too have criticized the arrest.

This is the second time in the last few days that India has reacted strongly over remarks on Kejriwal.

Earlier, the German Foreign Office last week had made remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest which led India to lodge a strong protest with the German Embassy in the national capital.