India hits back at UN over CJP protest detentions, accuses rights office of double standards

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday defended the actions of Indian law enforcement authorities following the United Nations' call for the immediate and unconditional release of people it described as “arbitrarily detained” during protests in the national capital. India also accused the UN human rights office of applying selective standards in its public statements.

“We also note that the OHCHR has an approach of extreme selectivity when it comes to public positions,” the MEA said in its response, referring to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The ministry maintained that India guarantees the right to peaceful assembly under its Constitution, while stressing that the exercise of this right remains subject to public order and safety.

MEA defends police action, cites constitutional safeguards

Responding to the UN's concerns, the MEA said India was the world's largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly was guaranteed by the Constitution and protected by institutions.

“As in every democracy, Indian citizens exercise this right subject to the maintenance 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,” the ministry said.

The MEA also criticised what it described as the UN human rights office's inconsistent response to protests and law enforcement actions in the region.

“Violent responses to protests in our neighbourhood have gone uncommented, as indeed have law enforcement actions in its own vicinity. Such double standards only erode the credibility of its stand,” the ministry said.

UN raises concerns over mass detentions in Delhi

The response followed the detention of more than 7,000 protesters by Indian police personnel on Saturday, including leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

The protesters had planned a demonstration against the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The UN expressed concern over the mass detention of protesters, lawyers, journalists and members of civil society organisations. It called on the Indian authorities to release those it considered arbitrarily detained and uphold the right to peaceful assembly.

“We call on the authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is fully respected and fulfilled,” the UN said.

India calls UN criticism interference in internal affairs

India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations had responded to the concerns on Saturday, describing them as “misplaced” and an “unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of India”.

“The authorities, for their part, act in accordance with the law, and our courts remain available to all for redressal of any grievances,” the mission said in a statement subsequently reiterated by the MEA.

India also urged the UN human rights office to exercise its mandate impartially and avoid selective criticism of law enforcement responses to demonstrations.

“In this context, OHCHR would also do well to devote comparable attention to large-scale protests elsewhere, consistent with its mandate of impartiality and non-selectivity,” the statement said.

The exchange marks a diplomatic disagreement over the handling of the Delhi protests, with the UN emphasising the protection of peaceful assembly and India maintaining that its authorities acted within the law while questioning the consistency of the international body's public interventions.