India has told the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee that human rights mechanisms must rise above “politicisation and selectivity” and respect cultural and historical contexts. The statement, delivered at the 81st session, came days after New Delhi called the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ remarks on mass detentions during the Delhi anti-CEC protests “unwarranted” and “unacceptable interference” in India’s internal affairs.
The UN human rights office had expressed concern over reports of mass detentions of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists before and during the large-scale protests in Delhi. India’s representative at the UN said New Delhi remains committed to advancing human rights “without selectivity and double standards” and would continue to engage with the UN in a spirit of trust and partnership.
India also pushed back against a separate UN report on indigenous peoples’ rights that flagged unresolved claims under India’s Forest Rights Act. India called the reference “unsubstantiated,” saying it relied on a single individual’s submission and not official data. According to official figures, over 5.4 million claims have been filed under the Act, more than 80% have been decided, and over 2.5 million titles have been distributed.
The statement highlighted India’s development record — 250 million people lifted out of multidimensional poverty in a decade, free food grains for 800 million, and health cover for 600 million. Separately, the UN General Assembly elected 15 countries, including Brazil, Germany, Japan and Ukraine, to the Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term.
The exchange is part of a pattern. India has consistently rejected external commentary on its domestic governance as interference, while presenting its development figures as evidence that rights are being advanced through outcomes, not external oversight.
Source: Business Standard (PTI)
