US arrests Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi:

A U.S. State Department spokesman said the U.S. government was closely following reports of Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and encouraged the Indian government to ensure “fair, transparent and timely justice for the jailed Delhi chief minister and opposition leader” program”. Reuters this week.

A few days ago, the German Foreign Ministry stressed that the Aam Aadmi Party leader, like any other Indian citizen facing charges, has the right to a fair and impartial trial.

“We assume and expect that the standards related to judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles will also apply in this case,” a German government spokesman said on Friday.

Read | ‘Blatant interference’: India protests Germany’s comments on Kejriwal

The Indian government reacted strongly, summoning the German envoy and calling the remarks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson “blatant interference in internal affairs.”

“We believe that such comments interfere with our judicial process and undermine the independence of our judiciary, and the presumption of bias is baseless,” the ministry said.

Asked about India’s protest against Germany, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters, “We recommend that you ask the German Foreign Ministry for comment on their discussions with the Indian government.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has yet to react to the U.S. State Department.

Read | Kejriwal sent to investigation agency for 7-day detention in liquor policy case

Last week, the Enforcement Directorate carried out a late-night raid on Kejriwal’s residence and took him into custody in dramatic circumstances after a Delhi court refused to provide him with arrest protection.

Remanded in central custody for seven days; that is, until Thursday.

Mr Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the liquor policy scam that has roiled the AAP and the national political landscape, less than a month before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Read | ‘We don’t have a level playing field’: Opposition to Kejriwal’s arrest

The chief minister’s arrest triggered outcry in Delhi, including India’s bloc allies Congress, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Opposition parties joined AAP in condemning the agency’s actions.

In Delhi on Tuesday, several AAP workers were detained by police while trying to march towards the Prime Minister’s residence. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party also launched a large march urging Kejriwal to resn

The Bharatiya Janata Party – accused by the opposition of using central investigative agencies, such as the Education Ministry, to target and harass rivals, especially in the run-up to elections – has called for Mr Kejriwal’s resignation, citing concerns raised by the AAP this week and the last A clear example of leader-led government. prison.

The BJP also rejected what the opposition described as its use of central agencies.