Arindam Bagchi (File photo/X)
NEW DELHI: India on Monday lashed out at the United Nations’ human rights chief for making “unfounded and baseless” comments about Kashmir and Manipur.
Slamming the UN’s human rights body for having a “misplaced concern,” India took strong exception to generalised remarks that were “cherry picking” of the situation.
Arindam Bagchi, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, said India “continues to be a healthy, vibrant and pluralistic society”.
“As India was mentioned by name, let me begin by emphasising that the world’s largest democracy continues to be a healthy, vibrant and pluralistic society. Unfounded and baseless comments in the update contrast jarringly with ground realities,” said Bagchi, who is also the International Organisations in Geneva Ambassador.
India’s strong retort came after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, in his global update to the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, mentioned India and referred to the situation in Manipur and Kashmir.
According to news agency PTI, Bagchi said the people of India have “repeatedly proven wrong such misplaced concerns about us” and “we would urge a better understanding of India and our civilizational ethos of diversity and openness, which continue to define our robust and often cacophonous civic space.”
Bagchi said nothing illustrates this divergence more than the passing reference to Jammu and Kashmir, which Turk “erroneously referred to as Kashmir” in the global update.
The Indian envoy further highlighted the irony of the UN human rights chief’s remarks, pointing out that this year had been particularly notable for the region’s strides toward peace and inclusive progress. He cited key developments such as high voter participation in provincial elections, a thriving tourism industry, and a rapid pace of development.
Pointing out the need for an authentic reassessment, Bagchi criticised the global update for its “oversimplifications of complex issues, sweeping and generalised remarks, usage of loose terminologies and apparent cherry picking of situations.”
He further remarked, “The High Commissioner has sensed a pervasive unease, but we would submit that a key element to addressing this is a long and hard look in the mirror by the Office of the High Commissioner.”
The UN human rights chief, in his global update, called for increased efforts to tackle violence and displacement in Manipur. “I also call for stepped-up efforts to address violence and displacement in Manipur, based on dialogue, peacebuilding and human rights,” he stated.
Additionally, he expressed concerns about the use of restrictive laws against human rights defenders and independent journalists, which, he noted, has led to arbitrary detentions and a shrinking civic space, “including in Kashmir.”
Turk acknowledged
India’s democratic framework
as a fundamental strength, stating, “India’s democracy and institutions have been its greatest strength, underpinning its diversity and development. Democracy requires constant nurturing of participation and inclusion at all levels of society.”
His global update addressed conflicts and human rights issues in various regions, including Ukraine, Gaza, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the United States. However, Pakistan was notably absent from the report.
