India serves demarche to US after remarks on AAP chief

India on Wednesday summoned acting US deputy envoy to India Gloria Berbena and issued a strong demarche over Washington's comments on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.

"We take strong objection to the remarks of the spokesperson of the US state department about certain legal proceedings in India," said a spokesperson of the external affairs ministry (MEA) that served the demarche. "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," the person added.

The MEA meeting with Berbena lasted for 40 minutes. People aware of the development told ET that New Delhi lodged a strong protest against US comments viewed as remarks on what is essentially India's internal matters.


Commenting on the ED recent arrest of Kejriwal, a US state department spokesperson earlier this week said Washington was "closely following" the situation and encouraging a "fair, transparent and timely" legal process.

Responding strongly, the MEA spokesperson cited above said 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 person added. Berbena heads public diplomacy in the US Embassy in India.

After Friday's demarche, the German foreign ministry on Wednesday played down its earlier approach on the Kejriwal issue. Spokesperson for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "India and Germany have a great interest in closer cooperation. The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental human values."