India has a robust judicial system that is fair and independent, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Thursday. His remarks came in the backdrop of comments by the US, Germany, and the United Nations on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a case related to a controversial liquor policy in the national capital.
India summoned a senior US diplomat and German deputy chief of mission. Reports had it that a US State Department official had said that Washington encouraged a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Kejriwal. On March 23, India lodged a strong protest against Germany’s foreign ministry’s remarks on the arrest of the Delhi chief minister.
Addressing an event organised by a Bar association, Dhankhar said, “There are people in the world who want to lecture us on our judicial behaviour.” Without referring to the case linked to the excise policy ‘scam’, he said India has a robust judicial mechanism.
Dhankhar urged people to have a firm commitment towards nationalism. “We are not a nation to get scriptures from others,” he asserted. He asked the youth to speak against such things on social media and other platforms. He called upon the young minds to enlighten the countries trying to teach us lessons out of their ignorance.
Speaking at an event at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, Dhankhar said India is a democratic nation with a robust judicial system which cannot be compromised by any individual or group. “We have to be extremely careful, sensitive and proactive in neutralising anti-national narrative with respect to our robust judicial system, our democratic fabric and what we have attained,” Dhankhar said.
“It is that institution of Judiciary that has met at midnight, that has met on a holiday (and) imparted relief. Can we target our institutions because they conduct themselves in a particular manner,” he added. He said the Judiciary can have a point of view on a particular issue which will not be palatable to the government and it has happened on several occasions.
“It is their (Judiciary’s) job,” he said. “But if a group of people without being registered or recognised party act as a political party. What do we do? They are not accountable. They get traction. We must rise above it,” he said.
In an apparent swipe at the United States and Germany for their remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said India is a democratic nation with a robust judicial system. He said a country in Europe, “a developed democracy, they need to think within. They need to attend to their own affairs. India is a democratic nation with robust judicial systems”.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and is in its custody till April 1. Referring to the debate around the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the rules for which were framed recently, Dhankhar said the law is not discriminatory.
(with inputs from PTI)
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