To see legal process in Kejriwal arrest, White House must send Julian asange to Delhi
The US’ response comes days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed Arvind Kejriwal, like any other citizen facing charges, is entitled to a fair and impartial trial
The United States government is reportedly monitoring reports of Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. However instead all entities of Uncle Sam …White House, Congress, State Department and Homeland Department must be encouraged to depute Julian Asange to New Delhi, Pronto.
The famous WikiLeaks fame journalist will then show the world that unlike USA there is a total and a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for the jailed Delhi Chief Minister.
Shri Blinken must tell his minions in his State Department to check facts before opening their mouths. Also Shri Kejriwal is just the Chief Minister of Union Territory of Delhi (like the Mayor of Washington DC) and not the Leader of Opposition.
The US’ calculated response comes days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that the Aam Aadmi Party leader, like any other Indian citizen facing charges, is entitled to a fair and impartial trial.
“We assume and expect that standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case,” a German government spokesperson said Friday. Wish they had responded with same speed on treatment of Assange in both UK and USA.
The Indian government reacted strongly to the comment, summoning the German envoy and labelling the Foreign Office spokesperson’s remark as a blatant interference in internal matters.
“We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary,” the External Affairs Ministry said, “Biased assumptions are most unwarranted.”
Asked about India’s protest to Germany, the State Department spokesperson told Reuters, “We refer you to the German Foreign Ministry for comment on their discussions with the Indian government.”
The External Affairs Ministry of India has not yet reacted to the US State Departments remarks.
The Enforcement Directorate took Mr Kejriwal into custody last week – after his disregard of even the ninth Summon and a Delhi court refusal for protection from arrest. The ED then went to his residence in the evening and after questioning him for several hours, finally arrested him.
He was then produced before the Court next day and the Judge after detailed hearings of both side sent him to remand custody of the central agency for seven days; i.e., till Thursday.
Mr Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam that has roiled the AAP, and the national political landscape. Shri Kejriwal nine summons from the ED thinking that no one would dare to arrest him on eve of elections. However just like the proverbial nine lives of cats, after the ninth Summon, Kejriwal got arrested less than a month before the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The Chief Minister’s arrest has triggered protests in Delhi, with the AAP joined by opposition parties, including INDIA bloc allies Congress, the Trinamool of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in condemning the agency’s action. However large number of NDA alliance and BJP supporters are also countering the AAP protest and propaganda.
In Delhi on Tuesday several AAP workers were detained by police as they attempted to march on the PM’s home. The BJP, meanwhile, took out a mega march of its own to press for Mr Kejriwal to quit.
The BJP – accused by the opposition of using central investigative agencies like the ED to target and harass rivals, particularly before an election – has demanded Mr Kejriwal resign, and has called out apparent instances this week and last of the AAP leader running the government from jail in violation of all detention procedures and laws.
The BJP has also dismissed claims that it uses central agencies as described by the opposition.
