Why 141 India opposition MPs suspended from parliament?
Al JazeeraDec 18, 2023
India Rejects US, Germany Comments on Opposition Leader's Arrest
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The Facts
India's Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday rejected recent remarks made by US and German diplomats concerning the arrest of opposition leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as part of a corruption case.
Defending India's legal processes and calling its judiciary "independent," the External Affairs Ministry said foreign states must be "respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs" of other nations.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The US and Germany's responses to Arvind Kejriwal's arrest exposes their anti-India agenda. Kejriwal is now facing protests from his own supporters. Western media's "crackdown on opposition" label is part of the US' interference against Narendra Modi's government. India's democracy and judiciary must be defended against such unfair scrutiny.
Pro-establishment narrative
India's right-wing government is misusing the criminal justice system to crack down on the opposition ahead of the national election. Besides Arvind Kejriwal and his party, politically motivated coercion has also been deployed against the Indian National Congress, whose bank accounts were frozen amid tax disputes. The US has also expressed concern over religious and press freedoms under Modi's rule.