US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller
– Photo: Social Media
Expansion
Despite the protest lodged by India, America did not desist. America has once again commented on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that America is keeping a close eye on the cases of arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and freezing of Congress’s bank accounts. On summoning the US diplomat, Miller said on Wednesday that we encourage a fair, transparent, timely legal process. We don’t think anyone should have any objection to this.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy scam. Currently Kejriwal is in ED custody. The US State Department had also commented on Kejriwal’s arrest a day earlier. After this, the Indian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned the acting Deputy Chief of the US Mission in Delhi, Gloria Barbena, and lodged a strong protest and termed the remarks as interference in India’s internal affairs.
During the press briefing of the State Department in Washington, questions were asked regarding summoning the acting deputy head of the US Mission in New Delhi, Gloria Barbena and freezing the bank accounts of the Congress Party. To this, Miller said, we are also aware of the Congress Party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts, making it challenging to campaign effectively in the upcoming elections. We encourage a fair, transparent and timely legal process in every case.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry had expressed strong objection to the remarks of the US State Department spokesperson. The ministry had said that in diplomacy, other countries are expected to respect the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. The responsibility of a democratic country like America is even greater in such matters. Otherwise it may set an unhealthy precedent. The Ministry of External Affairs further said that India’s legal process is based on an independent judiciary, which is committed to objective and timely results. It is unfair to raise questions on that.
