World · India Bureau
India rejects selective human rights criticism at UN forum
India has pushed back against what it characterizes as politically motivated scrutiny of its human rights record, calling for dialogue-based engagement with international mechanisms rather than selective targeting of nations.
LSN India ·
New Delhi asserted its commitment to human rights standards while rejecting attempts to use incomplete data for what it termed a negative portrayal of the country, during discussions at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee on Tuesday.
Barkha Tamrakar, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasised that human rights should not serve as a tool for political pressure or selective country targeting. "India engages with international human rights mechanisms, but such engagement must be based on dialogue, consultation, cooperation with non-selectivity and transparency as guiding principles," Tamrakar said while delivering India's statement on the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances.
The Indian representative cautioned against inflating unverified allegations into authoritative judgements, urging UN delegations to interpret reports accurately. "We call on delegations to cite the report faithfully, not to inflate a humanitarian communication into a verdict," she stated.
India's position reflects its broader stance on international human rights discourse, maintaining that assessments must be conducted without political bias and with full cooperation from concerned governments. The statement underscores New Delhi's argument that as the world's largest democracy, India should not face disproportionate scrutiny compared to other nations with varying democratic credentials.