India objects to U.S. remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest

The India Government, on Wednesday, strongly objected to U.S. remarks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest.

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

“In diplomacy, states are to respect the sovereignty and internal affairs of others,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry also summoned senior U.S. diplomat, Gloria Berbena.

Indian Federal Government’s financial crime-fighting agency arrested Kejriwal on March 21.

His arrest is on charges of corruption related to direct involvement in an excise policy favouring specific individuals.

Investigations into the Delhi excise policy case began in August 2022. That was when India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), accused the Delhi government of using the policy to favour certain liquor dealers who had allegedly paid bribes.

The government subsequently scrapped the policy.

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Several key leaders of the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), headed by Kejriwal, are now imprisoned in connection with the excise case.

APP rejects any wrongdoing and says their leaders have been “falsely arrested in a fabricated case”.

The AAP has governed India’s national capital territory for over a decade. The party also governs the northern Indian state of Punjab.

Kejriwal’s arrest came weeks before India’s general elections, which are scheduled to begin on April 19.

The AAP is part of an alliance of about two dozen opposition parties.

Among them is the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), led by the Congress party, which is challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming elections. (Xinhua)