In April, before voting began in India's general election, the US government said it would "encourage a fair legal process" over the arrest of a prominent leader of a coalition of opposition parties on suspicion of involvement in a corruption scandal. However, the Indian government strongly objected to the move, claiming it was interference in internal affairs.
Mr. Kejriwal, who serves as the chief minister of the local government that has jurisdiction over India's capital New Delhi, is an influential leader of the opposition coalition and has harshly criticized Prime Minister Modi's administration, but last week he was involved in a corruption scandal over liquor sales policy. He was arrested by law enforcement authorities on suspicion of involvement.
Furthermore, the leader of the main opposition party, the National Congress Party, has also stepped up his criticism, claiming that his party's bank accounts have been frozen by the Modi government.
At a press conference on the 27th, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Miller stated that they were closely monitoring the situation and ``encourage fair and transparent legal procedures.''
In response, India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly objected, saying it was interference in its internal affairs, and issued a protest statement saying, ``The statements made by the U.S. State Department cannot be justified. Outside criticism of our elections and legal processes is absolutely unacceptable.'' I put it out.
The Modi government denies any political involvement, but the opposition parties are criticizing it as a stranglehold on the opposition ahead of the general election, and on the 31st, a large-scale protest was held in the capital New Delhi. We are calling for a protest demonstration.