K.V. Seetharamaiah
Third party interference in the internal affairs of the country is highly unacceptable. Any external imputation on the country’s electoral and legal processes must be rejected outright. The recent remarks by the US State Department are not conducive for good relationship between India and the US. Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs has rightly rejected the US interference in the Indian administration following the comments by his counterpart Matthew Miller that the Washington DC has been continuing to closely follow the developments related to the recent arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. India had to take the unpleasant decision of summoning the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US embassy in New Delhi, Gloria Berbena, to the South Block in Raisina Hill conveying to her the strong objection over an earlier remark of a spokesperson of the American State Department on the arrest of Kejriwal. It is not impertinent to recall what Colonel R.S.N. Singh, an Indian defence expert and Indian Army Officer said about Kejriwal. He said Kejriwal is not a political threat but a security threat to this country, his main objective being to destabilise India to perpetuate the US agenda. This has been reportedly penned by Singh exactly 10 years back. Further, the US has said that it is aware of the Congress allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of the bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. It is the headache of Congress that it did not file the returns in time and it is the headache of the Congress that it did not disclose cash donations which did not attract tax exemptions. Miller says that he encourages fair, transparent, timely legal processes. He hopes that no one would object to that. Who is Miller to encourage or discourage anything that goes on depending upon the circumstances? The very interference is itself objectionable. What does the US expect in matters concerning money laundering? Is the US not indirectly abetting the perpetrators of crime? It requires no need for India to explain to any other country that the legal processes are driven only by the rule of law. It is disquieting that the United Nations (UN) has also reacted to the arrest of Kejriwal. The UN advocates that everyone’s right is protected in India where Lok Sabha elections are upcoming. The right of any party or individual has not been infringed. Any party or individual loses the right when rules are violated and financial crimes are committed. If the ruling party should not be given any advantage, the opposition parties should exercise extra care not to commit any mistake intentionally or unintentionally for gaining pecuniary advantages. Nobody is above law. If Kejriwal is really innocent, the Indian courts can see it. If he is found guilty, the Indian judiciary cannot be browbeaten by external forces against convicting him. Germany or the US or the UN should not only see the arrest of Kejriwal or frozen Bank accounts of Congress, but they must also see the financial crimes committed and not filing the Income Tax Returns in time. Selective look at something or someone does no good. AAP leader Raghav Chadha’s meeting with Pro-Khalistani UK MP Preet Gill is under the scanner. No party or individual is above law. Everyone must reap the fruits of the seeds sowed. Kejriwal is now locked in legal battle. The Indian judiciary can see the truth. This is time for Kejriwal to show his patriotism by denouncing the interference of Germany, the US and the UN in the internal affairs of India.
