“UN Expresses Concern Over Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest Ahead of Indian Elections; US and India Engage in Diplomatic Exchange”

In response to the recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of the Congress Party’s bank accounts in India, the United Nations spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, voiced concerns regarding the protection of political and civil rights in the country, especially in the context of upcoming national elections. Dujarric emphasized the importance of ensuring a free and fair atmosphere for voting.

The UN’s statement followed a similar reaction from the United States, prompting diplomatic exchanges between India and the US. After India summoned a senior US diplomat to protest remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest, the US reiterated its stance on encouraging fair, transparent, and timely legal processes.

This response sparked further discussions between the two nations, with India asserting its commitment to protecting its democratic institutions from external influences.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) labeled the US State Department’s remarks as “unwarranted” and emphasized the country’s adherence to independent and robust democratic processes.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declared any external imputation on India’s electoral and legal processes as unacceptable, reaffirming that legal proceedings in India are driven solely by the rule of law.

The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case related to the excise policy ‘scam’ further escalated tensions, with the MEA objecting to the US State Department’s commentary on India’s legal proceedings.

India reiterated its commitment to an independent judiciary and denounced any casting of aspersions on its legal processes.