Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 4: India has strongly criticized United Nations (UN) human rights chief Volker Türk for his comments on Kashmir and Manipur, calling them "baseless and unfounded."

At the 58th regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organizations, slammed Türk for using “loose terminology” and selectively highlighting issues while ignoring ground realities.

"As India was mentioned by name, let me begin by emphasizing that the world’s largest democracy continues to be a healthy, vibrant, and pluralistic society," Bagchi stated. "Unfounded and baseless comments in the update contrast jarringly with ground realities."

Responding specifically to Türk’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, Bagchi pointed out that the region had witnessed significant progress, including high voter turnout in local elections, a surge in tourism, and rapid infrastructure development. "Nothing illustrates this divergence more than the passing reference to Jammu and Kashmir, erroneously referred to as Kashmir. Clearly, the global update needs a genuine update," he added.

On Manipur, which has faced ethnic violence since 2023, Türk had called for "stepped-up efforts" to address displacement and violence through dialogue, peacebuilding, and human rights. He also raised concerns about the use of restrictive laws and alleged harassment of human rights defenders and journalists in Kashmir, which he claimed had resulted in arbitrary detentions and a shrinking civic space.

India rejected these assertions, reiterating its commitment to democratic principles, diversity, and openness. Bagchi urged the UN to develop a better understanding of India’s rich civilizational ethos and refrain from misrepresenting the country’s internal affairs.