Protest disruption hits festive shopping in Delhi

A day after the United Nations Human Rights Office expressed concern over mass detentions of demonstrators during protests against the Election Commission, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accused the UN body of "unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of India". UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameem Al-Kheetan had urged Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and called for any curbs on protests to meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality.

The protests saw nearly 7,000 people detained by the Delhi Police, with Jantar Mantar sealed amid heavy security. The MEA stated that the right to peaceful assembly in India is guaranteed by the Constitution and that the law enforcement authorities act strictly in accordance with the law. They described the UN body's statement as unwarranted, noting that the OHCHR has been selective in its public positions, failing to comment on violent responses to protests in other regions and actions by its own law enforcement agencies.

The MEA highlighted India's status as the world's largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly is protected.