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BIG STORY APRIL 05, 2024 | The Indian Eye 5

The meeting lasted for approximately a fair and impartial trial, this includes
40 minutes. he can make use of all available legal
Moreover, last week, India sum- avenues without restrictions. The pre-
moned the German Deputy Chief sumption of innocence is a central el-
of Mission in New Delhi to lodge a ement of the rule of law and must ap-
strong protest against their foreign ply to him,” the spokesperson of the
office spokesperson’s remarks on the German Foreign Ministry had said.
arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. As the controversy sparked by
Making a strong statement against the US and German diplomats goes
the German Foreign Office spokes- on and after the Congress party al-
person’s remarks, India said that it leged that the party has received fresh
sees these remarks as interference in notices from the income-tax depart-
India’s ‘judicial process’ and ‘under- ment, party leader Rahul Gandhi on
mining the independence’ of the Indi- Friday said that when they come to
an judiciary, the Ministry of External power, they will take “strict action”
Affairs said. against those trying to “murder the
On Friday, a spokesperson of Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy Georg Enzweiler leaves from the Ministry of democracy.”
the German Foreign Ministry, when External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi (ANI) Accusing the Income Tax De-
questioned on the arrest of Kejriwal, partment of double-standards, Con-
said that he was entitled to a fair trial. Arvind Kejriwal, the United States India stands firm on its judicial inde- gress on Friday alleged that while it
“We have taken note, that India is a emphasized its stance on advocating pendence, signaling a delicate balance has been penalised for “a violation of
democratic country. We assume and for fair and transparent legal process- between international diplomacy and Rs 14 lakh”, the income tax authori-
expect that the standards relating to es. Washington’s comments came af- national sovereignty. ties were completely silent on “Rs 42
independence of Judiciary and basic ter India summoned a senior US dip- Earlier, the Deputy Head of Mis- crore violation” by the BJP and that
democratic principles will also be ap- lomat to express its discontent over sion of the German Embassy, George the violations by the ruling party at
plied in this case. Like anyone facing remarks perceived as intrusive into Enzweiler was seen leaving the Min- the Centre entailed a penalty of Rs
accusations, Mr Kejriwal is entitled to its internal affairs. The diplomatic stir istry of External Affairs office in the 4,600 crore.
a fair and impartial trial, this includes revolves around the arrest of Kejriw- national capital’s South Block. MEA “When the government changes,
he can make use of all available legal al, implicated in a money laundering reaffirmed that “India is a vibrant and action will definitely be taken against
avenues without restrictions. The pre- case linked to an alleged excise poli- robust democracy with rule of law. As those who ‘murder the democracy’!
sumption of innocence is a central el- cy ‘scam’, and allegations against the in all legal cases in the country, and And such action will be taken that no
ement of the rule of law and must ap- Indian tax authorities for freezing the elsewhere in the democratic world, one will have the courage to do all this
ply to him,” the spokesperson of the Congress party’s bank accounts. law will take its own course in the again. This is my guarantee,” Rahul
German Foreign Ministry had said. “We are also aware of the Con- instant matter. Biased assumptions Gandhi said in a post on Twitter.
Kejriwal was on last Friday, re- But, BJP on Thursday slammed
manded to ED custody till March gress party’s allegations that tax au- made on this account are most un- the US State Department. “US state
warranted.”
thorities have frozen some of their
28, a day after he was arrested by the bank accounts in a manner that will On Friday, a spokesperson of the department is way out of line in its
probe agency for alleged money laun- make it challenging to effectively German Foreign Ministry when ques- statements pertaining to the arrest
dering in connection with the Delhi campaign in the upcoming elections. tioned on the arrest of Kejriwal said of Kejriwal and the I-T dept’s attach-
excise policy case. And we encourage fair, transparent that he was entitled to fair trial. ment of Congress funds. It is in fact
Earlier this month, the US had a slur on the Indian judiciary, which
“We have taken note, India is a
expressed concern over the im- and timely legal processes for each of democratic country. We assume and is seized of both these matters,” said
these issues,” Miller said, reaffirming
plementation of the Citizenship the US’s position on ensuring justice expect that the standards relating to BJP leader Mahesh Jethmalani.
(Amendment) Act (CAA). In his dai- and fairness in legal proceedings independence of Judiciary and basic Jethmalani further said that In-
ly briefing on March 15, the US State As the US and Germany express democratic principles will also be ap- dia has a robust non-partisan judi-
Department spokesperson Matthew their expectations for a fair trial and plied in this case. Like anyone facing ciary, which has in very recent times
Miller had said, “We are concerned adherence to democratic principles, accusations, Mr Kejriwal is entitled to rejected the govt’s stand on two elec-
about the notification of the Citizen- toral issues: electoral bonds case and
ship (Amendment) Act on March Chandigarh mayoral polls. “It ill be-
11.” External Affairs Ministry reject- hoves the most powerful country in
ed the remarks as “misplaced, misin- the world to cast implicit aspersions
formed, and unwarranted”. on the rule of law in proven democra-
Moreover, on March 25, the cies who are now trusted allies,” Jeth-
United States Commission on In- malani said.
ternational Religious Freedom He said that the state department
(USCIRF) raised the alarm on the would be well advised to focus its con-
government’s notification of the Cit- cerns on speedy and fair outcomes in
izenship Amendment Rules (CAR) the crucial cases of Hunter Biden and
in a move to begin implementing Donald J Trump’s 6th January 2021
the Citizenship (Amendment) Act imbroglio if it is truly concerned about
(CAA). In a statement, the USCIRF level election playing fields.
said that last week, USCIRF Com- As the election season starts,
missioner Stephen Schneck testified such comments are likely to become
at a Tom Lantos Human Rights Com- more intense. But repeated state-
mission hearing on this matter. ments about the state of Indian de-
But in response to India’s strong INDIA alliance members stage a protest against the central government over the arrest of mocracy can do serious damage to
objections over comments regard- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Friday (ANI) Indo-US relations in the post-elec-
ing the arrest of Delhi chief minister tion scenario.

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