The US has said it is following the case of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in India and is in touch with the Indian government over Friday's disqualification from parliament in a defamation case.
This was expressed by Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, during a press briefing.
"Respect for the rule of law and judicial independence are cornerstones of any democracy, and we are looking at Mr. Gandhi's case in Indian courts," he said.
He added that he was "engaging with his Indian partners to ensure the importance of democratic principles and the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression".
To a question, Patel said: "It is routine and standard practice that we are in touch with opposition parties in any country where we have bilateral relations."
