India on Sunday rejected concerns raised by the United Nations human rights office over mass detentions during protests in Delhi, describing its remarks as unwarranted interference in the country's internal affairs and asserting that law enforcement authorities had acted strictly in accordance with the law.
Responding to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India's Constitution guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly, which was protected by democratic institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media.
The response followed the detention of thousands of protesters, political leaders, activists and others during Saturday's demonstrations organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
MEA defends police action
In a video statement, Jaiswal said India was the world's largest democracy and that citizens were entitled to exercise their constitutional rights, subject to considerations of public order and safety. "Our law enforcement authorities act strictly in accordance with the law, and our courts remain available to all for the redressal of any grievances," he said.
The spokesperson maintained that the UN body's observations were unjustified and amounted to interference in matters falling within India's domestic jurisdiction. The MEA's response came after India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva had also rejected the OHCHR's observations on Saturday, describing them as misplaced.
India alleges double standards
Jaiswal accused the UN human rights office of adopting a selective approach in its responses to protests and law enforcement operations in different countries. He alleged that the organisation had failed to respond adequately to violent action against demonstrators in neighbouring countries and to policing operations closer to its own headquarters.
The MEA maintained that such selectivity undermined the credibility of international human rights institutions and weakened confidence in multilateral mechanisms. India's criticism reflected its objection to what it characterised as unequal scrutiny of countries by the UN body.
UN seeks release of detainees
The diplomatic exchange began after UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan expressed concern over reports of widespread detentions before and during Saturday's demonstrations in the national capital.
The OHCHR said those reportedly detained included protesters, leaders of the demonstrations, civil society representatives, lawyers and journalists. The UN office called for the immediate and unconditional release of individuals it described as arbitrarily detained. It also urged the Indian authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly was respected and that restrictions on demonstrations satisfied the principles of necessity and proportionality. The organisation called for restraint in dealing with protesters and meaningful dialogue to address the concerns raised during the demonstrations.
Thousands detained during protests
The CJP had planned a major demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding Kumar's resignation over allegations concerning electoral roll revisions. However, extensive security arrangements, barricades and restrictions on public transport prevented large groups from reaching the protest venue. Police detained demonstrators at several locations across the national capital. Among those detained were CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, senior members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and student activist Neha Bora.
Estimates of the number of detainees varied. Delhi Police sources cited in the ANI report put the figure at approximately 1,000, while other reports, including Reuters, indicated that more than 2,000 people had been detained. The demonstrations also prompted restrictions on Metro operations and internet connectivity in parts of Delhi, drawing criticism from Opposition parties and civil liberties groups.
Supreme Court intervenes
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Sunday directed authorities to ensure that detentions complied with the procedure established by law, particularly in cases involving peaceful and unarmed assemblies outside areas covered by prohibitory orders.
A bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also directed that Metro and railway services should function normally unless restrictions were justified by public order requirements. The court called for a review of barricades, protection of free movement and uninterrupted internet services, subject to powers available to the authorities under applicable laws.
The judicial intervention came as petitions challenging the restrictions imposed during the protests were taken up for consideration. The developments have brought the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, the limits of preventive policing and the legal safeguards governing detention into sharper focus, even as India and the UN human rights office remain at odds over the authorities' response to Saturday's demonstrations.