The External Affairs Ministry has said that the recent remarks by the US State Department on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest are unwarranted. Addressing media in New Delhi on Thursday, Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said any such external imputation on India’s electoral and legal processes is completely unacceptable.

India had lodged its strong objection and protest with the senior official from the US Embassy yesterday with regard to the comments made by the US State Department.

The spokesperson highlighted that India is proud of its independent and robust democratic institutions and committed to protect them from any form of undue external influences. He stressed that in India, legal processes are driven only by the Rule of Law. He said anyone who has similar ethos, especially fellow democracies, should have no difficulty in appreciating this fact.

Mr Jaiswal stated that mutual respect and understanding form the foundation of international relations and states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others.