India now summons US diplomat over Kejriwal remarks, says countries should respect others sovereignty

India summoned US diplomat Gloria Berbena over Kejriwal remarks

The government on March 27 summoned the US’ acting deputy chief of mission after the United States called for “fair legal process” while commenting on the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, four days after a German diplomat was called for similar comments.

In a strong worded statement issued after meeting Gloria Berbena, the ministry of external affairs said countries should be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others or it could set “unhealthy precedents”.

Read: Arvind Kejriwal case: Encourage fair, transparent legal process, says US on Delhi CM's arrest

“We take strong objection to the remarks of the Spokesperson of the US State Department about certain legal proceedings in India,” it said in a statement. “In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. This responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents. 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 diplomat was summoned a day after the US government said it was closely  monitoring the arrest of Kejriwal.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested on March 21 for alleged money laundering in case involving now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy.

“We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for chief minister Kejriwal," the US spokesperson said in response to an emailed query about the case.

Berbena meeting with the external affairs ministry officials lasted for around 45 minutes, reports said.

The ministry on March 23 served a demarche to German deputy chief of mission in New Delhi Georg Enzweiler after Germany said it had taken note of Kejriwal’s arrest and hoped that standards of independent judiciary and basic democratic principles would be followed in the case.