India has summoned a prime US diplomat after Washington warned it to make sure a “fair, transparent and timely legal process” for a senior opposition chief jailed simply weeks forward of parliamentary elections.

The US state division had stated it was “closely watching” occasions after Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi, was arrested last week in reference to a long-running corruption investigation.

“We take strong objection to the remarks,” India’s overseas ministry stated in an announcement. “In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others.”

Local broadcasters confirmed the senior US diplomat, Gloria Berbena, coming into India’s overseas ministry.

It is the primary time a sitting chief minister has been arrested, and has drawn accusations that Narendra Modi’s authorities is concentrating on opposition events earlier than the nationwide election starting on 19 April.

Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi social gathering (AAP) got here to energy within the metropolis in 2015 on the again of an anti-corruption motion, and had repeatedly come into the crosshairs of the nationwide authorities, which has more and more proven itself illiberal of dissent.

In Washington, when requested concerning the Indian response, a state division spokesman, Matthew Miller,additionally talked about the principle opposition Congress social gathering’s complaints concerning the freezing of financial institution accounts over alleged late submitting of tax returns.

“We are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections,” Miller stated. “We encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues.”

The US has usually been cautious in remarks about India, which it sees as a rising associate, regardless of issues voiced by rights teams concerning the nation’s course beneath Modi, a Hindu nationalist closely favoured to win a brand new mandate.

Last week, Germany additionally raised its issues concerning the arrest of Kejriwal, a key chief in an opposition alliance fashioned to compete towards Modi in elections starting subsequent month.

The overseas ministry stated it had additionally summoned Germany’s deputy ambassador on Saturday.

The AAP is a part of a coalition of 27 events which have united to combat towards Modi and his Bharatiya Janata social gathering (BJP) authorities within the election beneath the acronym “India”.

In a courtroom listening to on Friday final week, investigators described Kejriwal because the “kingpin” and “key conspirator” within the case generally known as the Delhi liquor rip-off, involving accusations his authorities obtained kickbacks whereas handing out liquor licenses to personal corporations.

He has denied the fees, and supporters say his arrest is supposed to sideline challengers to Modi earlier than subsequent month’s election – accusations the overseas ministry rejected.

“India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes,” the ministry added.

Party leaders have vowed that Kejriwal will stay as chief minister and proceed to control behind bars.

The monetary investigation company that arrested Kejriwal, the Enforcement Directorate, is beneath central authorities management. Government critics say it’s one in all a number of companies which were weaponised towards the BJP’s political opposition. The directorate has launched investigations into at the least 4 different state chief ministers or their members of the family.

Nearly a billion Indians will vote to elect a brand new authorities in six-week-long parliamentary elections beginning on 19 April – the biggest democratic train on the earth.

Many analysts see Modi’s re-election as a foregone conclusion, partly because of the resonance of his assertive Hindu-nationalist politics with members of the nation’s majority religion.

Additional reporting by Hannah Ellis-Petersen