Unfounded, Baseless: India on UNHRC Chief Remarks on J&K, Manipur
India has hit back at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) chief, Volker Türk, over his recent comments on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Manipur. India’s permanent representative to the UN, Arindam Bagchi, has termed the statement as “unfounded and baseless”, emphasizing that India is a “healthy, vibrant, and pluralistic society”.
The controversy arose when UNHRC chief Volker Türk expressed concerns over the situation in J&K, particularly the restrictive laws in place, and called for addressing the violence in Manipur. However, India has rejected the remarks, labeling them as “cherry-picking” and lacking a comprehensive understanding of the situation on the ground.
In a statement, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Arindam Bagchi, said, “The world’s largest democracy continues to be a healthy, vibrant and pluralistic society. The recent statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is unfounded and baseless.” He added that India is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, and has made significant progress in this regard.
The UNHRC chief’s statement has been seen as a departure from the UN’s traditional approach of maintaining a neutral stance on internal affairs of its member states. India has maintained that the UNHRC chief’s comments are an attempt to interfere in India’s internal matters and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
The issue of J&K has been a contentious one, with India having revoked the special status of the region in 2019. Since then, there have been reports of human rights abuses and restrictions on the freedom of movement and speech of the people living in the region. India has maintained that the measures taken were necessary to ensure national security and stability in the region.
Similarly, the issue of Manipur has also been a source of concern, with reports of human rights abuses and violence in the region. India has maintained that the situation is being handled by the local authorities and that the government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all its citizens.
India has also pointed out that the UNHRC chief’s statement is an attempt to divert attention from the real human rights issues that exist in other parts of the world. The country has highlighted the crisis in Myanmar, the human rights abuses in Syria, and the violence in Yemen as examples of real human rights concerns that need to be addressed.
In conclusion, India’s reaction to the UNHRC chief’s statement is a clear indication that the country will not tolerate any attempts to interfere in its internal matters or undermine its sovereignty. India is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, and will continue to do so in a manner that is consistent with its values and principles.
