India on October 11 rejected concerns expressed by the United Nations human rights chief over security measures and reported detentions linked to a proposed protest in Delhi, describing the remarks as “unwarranted” and an “unacceptable interference” in the country’s internal affairs.
Responding to the concerns, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India’s Constitution guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly and that the country had strong institutions to protect democratic freedoms.
“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,” the ministry said in an official statement.
The MEA maintained that, as in other democracies, the exercise of this right was subject to requirements concerning public order and safety. It added that law enforcement agencies operated within the framework of the law and that courts remained accessible to individuals seeking legal remedies.
New Delhi also criticised the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), accusing it of applying selective standards in its public statements. The ministry questioned the organisation’s response to alleged violent crackdowns on demonstrations in neighbouring countries and policing operations near its own headquarters.
“Such double standards only erode the credibility of its standing and contribute to the loss of faith in multilateralism,” the MEA said.
India’s response came a day after the UN human rights chief voiced concern over reports of mass detentions involving protesters, organisers, civil society representatives, lawyers and media personnel before and during large-scale demonstrations in Delhi.
The UN official urged Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure that any restrictions imposed on protests met strict standards of necessity and proportionality.
“We call on the authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is fully respected and fulfilled. Restrictions on peaceful protests must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality,” the high commissioner said.
The proposed demonstration was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities associated with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The planned mobilisation triggered heightened security across the national capital, with several political figures and demonstrators reportedly detained as authorities enforced restrictions around the proposed protest site.
The exchange highlights the contrasting positions of the Indian government and the UN human rights office over the handling of public demonstrations, civil liberties and the limits of security measures.