India slams UN rights body for raising concern over mass detentions: ‘Unwarranted interference’

India's permanent mission to the United Nations has criticized a UN human rights office for raising concerns over mass detentions of protesters, civil society members, lawyers, and journalists during protests in Delhi on Saturday. The Indian mission claimed the concerns were misplaced and represented unwarranted interference in the nation's internal affairs.

The UN Human Rights Office called for an immediate and unconditional release of those detained during the protests, noting that restrictions on peaceful assembly must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality. According to police sources, around 1,200 people were detained overnight, with an additional 500 people arrested in the morning.

The Indian mission defended India as the world's largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly is protected by the Constitution and upheld by independent institutions, including a free media and robust judiciary. They emphasized that citizens exercise this right in accordance with reasonable restrictions for the sake of public order, and the authorities act in accordance with the law.

The UN official emphasized the global concerns over the mass detentions of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society organizers, lawyers, and journalists during the large-scale demonstrations in Delhi. They urged Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and release all those arbitrarily detained. The Indian authorities were urged to engage in meaningful dialogue to address the widely-held concerns.