'We Encourage Fair, Transparent, And Timely Legal Process': US On Arrest Of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

This statement comes after Germany's response to the case triggered a protest from New Delhi.

Kejriwal, a prominent opposition figure, was detained by India's financial crime-fighting agency Enforcement Directorate on Thursday over corruption charges.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The United States is closely monitoring reports of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and advocates for a fair legal process, stated a spokesperson for the State Department on Monday. This statement comes after Germany's response to the case triggered a protest from India, reported news agency Reuters.

Kejriwal, a prominent opposition figure, was detained by India's financial crime-fighting agency Enforcement Directorate on Thursday over corruption charges that his political party refutes, just a month before the national elections.

"We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal," the US spokesperson said in reply to an emailed inquiry regarding the case, in which India summoned a German envoy on Saturday to protest against his government's remarks about the arrest, as per the Reuters report.

In response to questions about the arrest during a government press briefing on Friday, Sebastian Fischer, the spokesperson for Germany's foreign office, stated that like any individual facing accusations, Kejriwal deserves a fair and unbiased trial. "We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case," he added.

New Delhi summoned the deputy chief of mission of the German embassy, Georg Enzweiler, to express "India’s strong protest" against the remarks, as stated by India's foreign ministry on Saturday. "We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary," it said in a statement. "Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted," the Reuters added.

Asked about India's protest to Germany, the State Department spokesperson said: "We would refer you to the German Foreign Ministry for comment on their discussions with the Indian government."

Regarding India's objection to Germany, the spokesperson for the State Department stated, "We would refer you to the German Foreign Ministry for comment on their discussions with the Indian government."

Washington increasingly regards India as a crucial strategic and economic ally in its efforts to counter China's expanding influence globally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has frequently demonstrated sensitivity to criticism on human rights issues, with rights activists accusing President Joe Biden's administration of prioritizing strategic interests over such concerns in its interactions with New Delhi, reported Reuters.

India and Berlin also share good ties, and the two countries have been coming closer on strategic issues, including defense technology.