- Sputnik India, 1920
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Western Backing for Arvind Kejriwal Boomerangs in India

© AP Photo / Manish SwarupRapid Action Force soldiers stand guard outside outside the office of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party where supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party, or Common Man's Party, had gathered in protest, in New Delhi, India, Friday, March 22, 2024. Anti-corruption crusader and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was arrested Thursday by the federal investigative agency for suspected financial crimes, which accused his party and ministers of accepting 1 billion rupees ($12 million) in bribes from liquor contractors nearly two years ago, his party said, adding a fresh challenge for India's opposition ahead of general elections. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Rapid Action Force soldiers stand guard outside outside the office of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party where supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party, or Common Man's Party, had gathered in protest, in New Delhi, India, Friday, March 22, 2024. Anti-corruption crusader and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was arrested Thursday by the federal investigative agency for suspected financial crimes, which accused his party and ministers of accepting 1 billion rupees ($12 million) in bribes from liquor contractors nearly two years ago, his party said, adding a fresh challenge for India's opposition ahead of general elections. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) - Sputnik India, 1920, 26.03.2024
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The US State Department announced on Monday that it was keeping a close eye on the situation involving Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal currently under arrest. Over the weekend, India summoned a senior German diplomat in New Delhi over Berlin's unwarranted “interference” in the case.
The sympathetic tone adopted by the US, Germany and western media towards the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over corruption charges has "exposed" their anti-India agenda, an Indian strategic affairs expert has told Sputnik India.
Kejriwal, who's part of opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance was arrested by the federal anti-money laundering agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week for allegedly receiving millions in dollars in kickbacks in distributing liquor licenses during the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. His arrest has led to street protests by his supporters from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi ahead of the national election next month.
Meanwhile, western media outlets have labelled Kejriwal's arrest as part of a "crackdown on opposition" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Saturday, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lodged a strong protest with the German Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi over German Foreign Office remarks on Kejriwal's arrest.
"We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary," the MEA said on Saturday.

'Western Powers Exposed’, Says Indian Think Tank Chief

Dr Anant Bhagwat, the chair of national security think tank Global Strategic Policy Foundation Pune (GSPFP), stated that the US-led Western Alliance wasn't in favour of a "strong mandate" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"From time to time, the US has deployed different methods to rein in the Indian government under Prime Minister Modi as it hasn't been subservient to American interests," he remarked.

Anant Bhagwat explained that the US' foreign policy was primarily shaped by such factors as the incumbent dispensation (The Democratic Party of Republican Party), Deep State, Pentagon and the diaspora.

He said that the incumbent party and President in power as well as the Pentagon were largely "pragmatic" in their foreign policy approach.
"Their stance towards India is largely driven by business and geopolitical factors", Anant Bhagwat reckoned.
He singled out the 'Deep State' as the biggest problem in India-US relations.

"The Deep State, which has an expansive reach in major media organisations, as well as in the US government among others, has been seeking to destabilise India through constant interference in our political matters and decision-making. The Deep State has been bent on destabilising India, like it has done in many other countries," the think tank chief stated.

Bhagwat noted that American billionaire George Soros, known to have generously contributed to media groups such as Washington Post, New York Times and CNN among others, was also backing Indian opposition politicians like Arvind Kejriwal.
The charges aren't new as Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has also voiced such concerns in the past.

Anant Bhagwat said that Kejriwal has been working at the behest of "anti-India forces" such as Soros' to undermine the Indian national interest.

"Kejriwal's anti-India agenda has been completely exposed. But more importantly, by initially supporting Kejriwal, the West has also been exposed. India has already conveyed its displeasure very strongly to Germany. The Western powers will eventually come to terms with the fact that Indian public is strongly behind Modi and such attempts to incite anger through propping up discredited opposition politicians isn't going to work anymore," Anant Bhagwat stated, noting opinion polls and sentiment among BJP cadre pointed towards a thumping majority for Prime Minister Modi in June.

'We Don't Need External Validations', Affirms BJP IT Cell Chief

The coverage of Kejriwal's arrest in major western media organisations such Washington Post, New York Times (NYT), CNN and BBC to name a few hasn't gone down well with the senior officials of the ruling BJP.

"India is a robust democracy and a thriving one at that. We have a functional judiciary, which ensures rule of law prevails, and a free press. The Western media would be better off focusing on what the US agencies are doing collectively to their former President, instead of commenting, falsely, on India’s affairs," Amit Malviya, the National Convenor of BJP's Information and Technology (IT) Cell, told Sputnik India.

Malviya underscored that Indian courts and people (through voting) remained the "final arbiters of all things, good and bad".
"We don’t need external validations," Malviya underlined.
Policemen stand guard outside Rouse Avenue court during the hearing of Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal following his arrest in a corruption probe, in New Delhi on March 22, 2024. - Sputnik India, 1920, 22.03.2024
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Kejriwal's Arrest: US Gov't 'Mouthpieces' Draw Backlash for Anti-BJP Bias
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