New Delhi : Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday by India’s financial crime-fighting agency on corruption charges. The U.S. is following the reports, on the arrest of the capital territory’s chief minister.
The U.S. spokesperson said, “We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal.” in response to an email he received about the case in which on Saturday India summoned a German envoy to protest against his government’s remarks regarding the arrest.
The government strongly objected to the remarks made by the U.S. spokesperson. The External Affairs Ministry summoned Gloria Berbena, US’ Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, to a 40-minute meet at its office in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon. In a brief statement released shortly afterwards, the MEA warned of “unhealthy precedents and against “unwarranted aspersions”.
#WATCH | The Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi summoned the US' Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena, today. The meeting lasted for approximately 40 minutes. pic.twitter.com/ONLUCI9Hnc
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2024
Sebastian Fischer, spokesperson for Germany’s foreign office said, “We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case.” on Friday at the Government press conference.
The arrest has caused furious protests in Delhi with APP joined by opposing parties, including INDIA bloc allies Congress, the Trinamool of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in condemning the agency’s action.
On Tuesday, several APP members were detained by the cops as they attempted to march to the PM’s house. Although, the BJP took out a mega march protesting for Kejriwal to quit.
The opposition leaders claimed that the BJP-led Central Government used probe agencies like ED and CBI for political motives. The APP members also hit out BJP during the arrest alleging that they were trying for the Chief Minister to not campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.
The APP ministers, Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj assured the party members that Kejriwal is issuing orders from ED’s lock up, and he is constantly thinking about their well-being.
