After Kejriwal’s arrest, US weighs in on Congress’ call to ‘freeze bank accounts’

back India summoned a top US diplomat on Wednesday Reacting to Washington’s remarks over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, the United States is now weighing in on the Congress party’s accusation that tax authorities had frozen his bank accounts over a tax dispute ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

“We encourage a fair, transparent and timely legal process on these matters,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

When asked about India summoning U.S. diplomats, Miller declined to comment on private diplomatic conversations.

“I’m not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations, but certainly what we say publicly is what I just said here, we encourage a fair, transparent, timely legal process. We don’t think anyone should object to that, ANI Miller was quoted as saying by news agencies.

India has previously lodged strong protests Washington ‘closely watching’ remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials summoned Gloria Berbena, the acting deputy head of the delegation, at her office in South Delhi. The meeting lasted more than 30 minutes.

A US State Department official reportedly said that Washington “encourages Chief Minister Kejriwal to pursue fair, transparent and timely legal proceedings”.

The MEA later said in a statement, “We strongly object to the remarks made by the US State Department spokesperson regarding certain legal proceedings in India.”

The statement said: “In diplomacy, countries should respect the sovereignty and internal affairs of other countries. This responsibility is even more true for other democratic countries. Otherwise, it may end up setting an unhealthy precedent.”

India’s foreign ministry said in a statement that India’s legal proceedings are based on “an independent judiciary committed to objective and timely results” while stressing that “slander on this matter is baseless.”

India summoned the deputy head of the German mission on Saturday (March 23) The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly protested over the arrest of the Delhi Chief Minister.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the GST policy ‘scam’.