New Delhi: The Biden administration on Monday reiterated that India holds vital strategic significance as a associate to the US and indicated that they anticipate no alteration within the standing of this relationship.
During a day by day press briefing the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded to a query by asserting America’s relations with India. He said, “India is the world’s largest democracy, it is an important strategic partner of the United States and I expect that to remain true.” Miller expressed his expectation that this might proceed to be the case.
Miller discovered himself on the spot alleging democratic backsliding when confronted with current publications claiming a decline in democracy in India and the US managing its ties with the nation. The experiences surfaced following Miller’s remarks concerning the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in excise case and the freezing of the checking account of the Indian National Congress (INC).
#WATCH | On being requested concerning the United States’ relationship with India, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller says, “India is the world’s largest democracy, it is an important strategic partner of the United States and I expect that to remain true.” pic.twitter.com/nV6nD2owfr
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2024
Matthew Miller was questioned, why is that the State Department taking a stance on the arrest of Indian opposition chief Arvind Kejriwal whereas neglecting to take action concerning the arrests of Pakistani opposition leaders?
Replying to the query, Miller declined to categorise each circumstances collectively and said that the US hoped for constant utility of the rule of legislation and human rights for everybody in Pakistan.
US’ Previous Comments
After Delhi CM was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Indian exterior affairs ministry summoned a senior American diplomat to protest the place taken by the US official on Kejriwal’s arrest. Later, Miller commented on summoning stating that they’re monitoring these developments intently.
“We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. 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 added. we encourage truthful, clear and well timed authorized processes for every of those points,” he identified
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted India’s confidence in its “robust and independent” democratic institutions, labeling the comments made by the US State Department regarding the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal as “unwarranted.” The ministry further stated that any external criticism of India’s electoral and legal systems is “completely unacceptable.”
