Diplomatic Tensions Rise As US Flags Kejriwal's Arrest Again, Mentions Congress' Frozen Accounts Despite India's Objections

After India summoned an American diplomat over remarks made on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, the US on Wednesday (27 March) again reiterated its call for "fair, transparent, timely legal process".

"We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

Miller's remarks came in response to a question on India summoning Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi.

In response to a question on the Congress party's frozen bank accounts, Miller said, "We are also aware of the Congress Party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections".

"We encourage fair, transparent, and timely legal processes for each of these issues," he added.

Miller refused to divulge the details of the conversations between Berbena and Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials.

"I’m not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations. But of course what we have said publicly is what I just said from here, that we encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We don’t think anyone should object to that, and we’ll make the same thing clear privately," he said.

Kejriwal was arrested last week by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The agency has alleged that the Delhi CM was the "kingpin" and the "key conspirator" in the scam.

On Tuesday (26 March), the US State Department said it was monitoring reports of Kejriwal's arrest and called on India to ensure a "fair and timely legal process" for the Delhi CM.

Objecting to the US remarks, India said it was setting "unhealthy precedents".

"States are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents," the External Affairs Ministry said.

"India's legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted," the ministry added.

Also Read: Liquor Policy Case: No Relief To Arvind Kejriwal From Delhi High Court, ED Custody Ends