India rejects UN rights body remarks on Delhi protests, cites ‘double standards’

India has dismissed remarks from the United Nations' Human Rights Office regarding mass detentions of demonstrators in Delhi, asserting that the concerns are "unwarranted" and constitute an "unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of India". The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is a democracy where the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by law.

He emphasized that Indian citizens exercise this right in line with maintaining public order and safety, and that law enforcement acts strictly in accordance with the law. The spokesperson also criticized the UN body's "selective approach" in addressing similar situations elsewhere, such as in Pakistan and France, suggesting that this "double standard" undermines the UN's credibility and damages multilateralism.

The UN Human Rights Office expressed concern over mass detentions of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers, and journalists in Delhi. They urged Indian authorities to respect and fulfill the right to peaceful assembly, ensuring restrictions meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality. They also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained and urged meaningful dialogue to address concerns.