'Human rights not tool for political pressure': India on UN criticism over protests

India asserted on Wednesday that human rights frameworks must not serve as instruments for political pressure or the selective targeting of nations, rejecting efforts to construct a negative narrative regarding the world’s largest democracy based on unverified data. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee in New York, Barkha Tamrakar, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, stated that India engages with international human rights mechanisms but insists such interactions rely on dialogue, consultation, and cooperation guided by non-selectivity and transparency. She urged delegations to cite reports faithfully rather than inflating humanitarian communications into definitive verdicts. Tamrakar specifically opposed converting incomplete statistics or reports lacking specific country observations into adverse characterizations of India. These remarks followed statements made by more than twenty UN human rights experts in Geneva on Tuesday, October 20. The experts expressed alarm over what they described as a repeatedly heavy-handed police response to peaceful, youth-led demonstrations in New Delhi. In a statement distributed by UN Special Procedures, the group alleged that law enforcement agencies used force against unarmed students, detained protesters arbitrarily, and imposed broad restrictions on public gatherings. Despite the non-violent nature of these assemblies, the experts noted that security forces deployed physical force. They called on Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure accountability for alleged abuses. The UN experts highlighted that hundreds of thousands of students and supporters had gathered peacefully across the country to protest government decisions regarding the education system and recent deletions from voter rolls. Reports indicated that these deletions affected approximately 130 million individuals, many of whom belonged to Muslim, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe communities. The specialists reported that more than 7,000 young people, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, and political party members were recently detained in New Delhi. These individuals were transported to detention centers located far from the city center. The experts claimed that the detainees' mobile phones were seized and protest-related materials were deleted. Most of those held were released after 24 hours, including prominent protest leaders. Concerns extended to reports of injuries and ill-treatment among protesters. The experts expressed particular worry over allegations of sexual violence and other forms of gender-based abuse occurring during demonstrations and associated detentions. They also criticized the reported application of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to impose wide-ranging restrictions on public gatherings, suspend public transportation, and enforce internet shutdowns. The UN group maintained that any restrictions on peaceful assembly must be lawful, pursue a legitimate objective, and remain necessary and proportionate. They urged Indian authorities to cease excessive use of force, lift blanket restrictions on assemblies, and avoid the misuse of digital surveillance tools, including biometric monitoring and internet disruptions. An independent, impartial, and thorough investigation into the conduct of law enforcement personnel was demanded, along with measures to ensure accountability, justice, and reparations for victims. In response to the broader context, Tamrakar emphasized that India is anchored in the rule of law. She noted that India signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on February 6, 2007, although the treaty has not yet been ratified. The convention prohibits state-sponsored abductions and classifies widespread enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity. Tamrakar pointed to Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, arguing that an independent judiciary provides safeguards against alleged citizen disappearances. She added that the Right to Information Act strengthens transparency and accountability in governance, supported by independent media and a dynamic civil society. Furthermore, she stated that national and state human rights commissions offer effective avenues for complaints and redressal. The diplomatic exchange occurred against a backdrop of ongoing tensions. Last week, India rejected a report by a UN human rights expert as hearsay. That report had noted a satirical political movement created by the country’s youth and alleged that participants faced retaliation. New Delhi had previously urged the expert to verify claims before vilifying issues based on unverified allegations. The UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner had separately expressed concern over reports of mass detentions involving demonstrators, protest leaders, and members of civil society organizations. The protests themselves were triggered by demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Demonstrators objected to his handling of the special intensive revision of voter rolls. The UN experts characterized the crackdown as part of a broader, troubling pattern. They stated that they had repeatedly alerted Indian authorities regarding undue restrictions on peaceful assembly, excessive force, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the targeting of student activists. Tamrakar concluded her address by stating that New Delhi remained prepared to clarify specific, properly documented cases through established channels. The session focused on the agenda item concerning the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances.