India Disagrees with UN Rights Chief’s Remarks on Kashmir, Manipur, Calls Them ‘Unfounded and Baseless’

India has strongly criticized remarks made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk concerning the situations in Kashmir and Manipur, labeling them as “unfounded and baseless” and asserting that they do not reflect the actual ground realities.

During the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk expressed concerns about the use of restrictive laws and harassment of human rights defenders and independent journalists in Kashmir, leading to arbitrary detentions and a shrinking civic space. He also called for enhanced efforts to address violence and displacement in Manipur through dialogue, peace-building, and human rights-based approaches.

In response, Ambassador Arindam Bagchi, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, refuted these concerns, stating that they are disconnected from India’s vibrant and pluralistic democratic fabric. He emphasized that the people of India have consistently dispelled such misplaced apprehensions. Bagchi also criticized the UN update for oversimplifying complex issues, making generalized statements, and selectively highlighting certain situations.

Furthermore, Bagchi pointed out that the reference to “Kashmir” was erroneously made without specifying “Jammu and Kashmir,” and highlighted the region’s improving peace and inclusive progress, citing high voter turnout in provincial elections, a booming tourism sector, and rapid development. He called for a more accurate understanding of India’s ethos, which embraces diversity and openness, values that define its dynamic civic space.