New Delhi, Mar 23: India has protested remarks made by a spokesperson from the German Foreign Office regarding the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
A senior diplomat from the German Embassy was summoned by the External Affairs Ministry on Saturday to convey India’s dissatisfaction with the comments.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, (MEA), it stated, “The German Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi was summoned today and conveyed India’s strong protest on their Foreign Office Spokesperson’s comments on our internal affairs. We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary.”
Further emphasizing India’s stance, the press release continued, “India is a vibrant and robust democracy with the rule of law. As in all legal cases in the country, and elsewhere in the democratic world, law will take its own course in the instant matter. Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted.”
The German Foreign Office spokesperson’s comments were in response to the arrest of Kejriwal, where they stated, “We have taken note, India is a democratic country. We assume and expect that the standards relating to the independence of the Judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case.
Like anyone facing accusations, Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial, this includes he can make use of all available legal avenues without restrictions. The presumption of innocence is a central element of the rule of law and must apply to him”.