The United Nations has voiced its hopes for the safeguarding of political and civil rights in India, emphasizing the importance of a free and fair atmosphere for the upcoming parliamentary elections. This statement comes in the wake of controversies involving Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest and the Congress party’s allegations regarding the freezing of their bank accounts ahead of the elections. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, expressed the organization’s desire for the protection of everyone’s rights during the electoral process in India.
The international community, including the United States, has also shown concern over these developments. The US State Department has made remarks on two occasions regarding Kejriwal’s arrest and the allegations made by the Congress party, advocating for a fair and transparent legal process. India’s response was to summon the acting U.S. deputy chief of mission in New Delhi, reiterating the independence and objectivity of its judiciary and dismissing the external comments as unwarranted.
Despite India’s dismissal of these external comments, the US has reiterated its stance on the importance of fair and transparent legal proceedings related to these matters. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized that advocating for fair legal processes should not be objectionable and mentioned that the US would convey the same message privately as well.
As tensions rise with external comments on India’s internal political issues, the Indian government remains firm in its stance, rejecting any external interference in its electoral and legal processes. The unfolding situation highlights the global attention on India’s democratic processes and the importance of upholding the principles of fairness and transparency in the run-up to the elections.
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