New York, The United Nations has issued a statement concerning the recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the financial constraints placed on the Congress party, calling on the Indian government to ensure that political and civil rights are safeguarded.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, highlighted the global body’s concern during a press briefing. He expressed the UN’s hope that India, amidst its electoral processes, would protect the political and civil rights of all individuals, thereby guaranteeing a voting environment that is both free and fair. This statement was in direct response to inquiries about the escalating political tension in India, prompted by Kejriwal’s detention and the subsequent freezing of the Congress party’s bank accounts.

The UN’s remarks follow similar concerns voiced by international entities such as the United States and Germany. The US, in particular, faced India’s displeasure after commenting on the situation, with Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, asserting America’s focus on the events, including Kejriwal’s arrest. Miller stressed the need for fair, transparent, and expedient legal processes regarding both the arrest and the allegations by the Congress party of their bank accounts being unjustly frozen, potentially hindering their election campaign efforts.

Echoing this sentiment, Sebastian Fischer, representing Germany’s foreign office, conveyed expectations for the adherence to judicial independence and democratic principles in handling these cases.