Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 11: India on Sunday firmly rejected remarks by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on events in the national capital, describing its concerns as “unwarranted” and accusing the world body of meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
In a statement posted on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the OHCHR’s comments amounted to “an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of India.” The statement was a response to the UN office’s remarks on events in New Delhi the previous day.
Defending India’s record, Jaiswal said the right to peaceful assembly is firmly protected in the country. “India is the world’s largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by our Constitution and safeguarded by robust institutions, an independent judiciary, and a free media,” he said.
He added that, as in other democracies, this right must be exercised in a manner that maintains public order and safety. Indian law enforcement agencies, he said, act in accordance with the law, and citizens who have grievances are free to approach the courts for redressal.
The MEA also turned its criticism on the UN body’s conduct. Jaiswal accused the OHCHR of “extreme selectivity” in issuing public statements, alleging that violent responses to protests in neighbouring countries had gone unremarked, as had law enforcement actions in its own vicinity.
“Such double standards only erode the credibility of its standing and contribute to the loss of faith in multilateralism,” he said. |
