The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed its concern over the mass arrests carried out in India during the large protests in recent days in New Delhi, the capital, while the Indian government has rejected the international body's criticisms, understanding that they represent an "unacceptable interference" in its internal affairs.
The spokesperson for the High Commissioner, Thameen al Kheetan, has warned about reports documenting the arrests of protesters, protest leaders, members of civil society organizations, activists, lawyers, and journalists in the context of these gatherings.
In light of this scenario, the United Nations has demanded that the Indian authorities "fully" respect the right to peaceful assembly of the population and has emphasized that any restrictions on these protests must adhere to "strict criteria of necessity and proportionality."
The organization has also requested that security forces act with the utmost restraint towards the protesters, in line with India's democratic traditions and the country's international commitments regarding Human Rights.
The Office of the High Commissioner has also demanded the "immediate and unconditional" release of all individuals who, in its view, have been detained "arbitrarily," and urges the Executive to open a constructive dialogue to address the concerns raised in the context of the mobilizations.
India claims its democratic system
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has indicated that it has taken note of the statements from the office of the High Commissioner regarding the incidents recorded the previous day in New Delhi, but considers the concerns expressed by the United Nations to be unjustified.
In its response, the government has claimed the country as "the largest democracy in the world" and has emphasized that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed in the Constitution and supported by "strong institutions, an independent judiciary, and a free press."
The Ministry has stressed that, as in any democracy, the exercise of this right must be compatible with the preservation of public order and security. In this regard, it has defended that the Police act "strictly in accordance with the law" and has reminded that citizens have the courts to present their claims and obtain a response.
On this basis, Indian diplomacy has rejected the remarks of the United Nations office and has reiterated that its statement constitutes an "unacceptable interference" in the internal affairs of the country.
New Delhi accuses the UN of double standards
The Indian Government has also questioned the neutrality of the international organization, which it accuses of an "extreme selectivity" when pronouncing on different situations related to protests and the actions of security forces.
Specifically, it has criticized that the office of the High Commissioner has not commented on violent responses to demonstrations in the region nor on certain police actions in its own area of operation.
According to New Delhi, this disparity of criteria reflects a "double standard" that undermines the credibility of the organization's positions and deteriorates trust in the multilateral system.
This exchange of statements occurs while protests demanding the resignation of the chairman of the Central Election Commission, Gyanesh Kumar, appointed to the position by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and accused of manipulating the electoral census to favor the latter's party, continue in the Indian capital.
In the context of these protests, called by the Cucarahas Party movement (CJP), around 3,000 people have been arrested during the day on Saturday in New Delhi, where it has also been reported the cancellation of more than 250 trains and the closure of up to 45 metro stations.