India rejects UN rights office's concern over Jantar Mantar detentions as interference in internal affairs

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had called a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The preventive action taken by the police during and before the protest is now being heard of internationally. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) expressed concern over the action, after which the Government of India lodged a strong objection. India rejected the UN's remark outright, calling it wholly baseless and unwarranted interference in the country's internal affairs.

Delhi Police had already refused permission for the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, citing security reasons. Even so, the CJP's top leaders, workers and some journalists, who were preparing for the protest, were detained by Delhi Police on Sunday. Among the leaders detained were Abhijit Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das. After the preventive detentions, tight police arrangements were put in place in the capital, causing considerable stir in political and social circles.

In a statement on these events, the UN human rights office said it was deeply concerned by the manner in which civil society members, activists, lawyers and journalists had been detained in Delhi ahead of large protests. India took a sharp stance immediately after the UN statement.

India's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva promptly issued an official statement in response. India said it is the world's largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Constitution and protected by strong institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media. According to the statement, as in every democracy, citizens in India exercise this right within reasonable restrictions imposed in the interest of public order. The administration acts in accordance with the law, and the courts are open to all for the redress of any grievance.

India also said that, for this reason, the OHCHR's concerns were misplaced and amounted to unwarranted interference in India's internal affairs. The statement further said that, in keeping with its mandate of impartiality and non-selectivity, the OHCHR should pay equal attention to large protests taking place elsewhere.

India thus not only rejected the UN's remark but also advised the human rights office to view large protests in other parts of the world with the same neutrality, without discriminating against any one country.

Meanwhile, the process of producing the leaders held at the Delhi Cantonment police station before an executive magistrate was under way. In the interim, the episode has also drawn considerable discussion in international politics.