India has issued a stern response to remarks made by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) regarding the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demonstrations and subsequent preventive detentions in New Delhi. Rejecting the concerns, New Delhi termed the commentary “unwarranted” and an “unacceptable interference” in India’s sovereign internal affairs.
Furthermore, India advised the global rights body to adhere strictly to its mandate of impartiality and non-selectivity, suggesting it apply equal scrutiny to major protests and security actions occurring in other parts of the world.
Responding via an official statement on ‘X’, India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva highlighted the resilience of the nation’s democratic framework. The Mission emphasized that the Constitution of India firmly guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and protest, underpinned by robust democratic institutions, an independent judiciary, and a vibrant, free press. It stated that while citizens exercise their rights subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order, law enforcement authorities operate strictly within established legal boundaries. Additionally, independent courts remain accessible to all citizens for grievance redressal, making external questioning of India’s constitutional processes entirely misplaced.
The diplomatic pushback followed a statement by OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan, who expressed concern over reports detailing preventive detentions of demonstrators, civil society members, lawyers, and journalists prior to and during the Delhi protests. The UN spokesperson had urged Indian authorities to uphold the right to peaceful assembly, called for restraint by security personnel, and sought the unconditional release of detainees.
Emphasizing principles of necessity and proportionality regarding restrictions on public assemblies, the UN body had advocated resolving the issues through constructive dialogue. Dismissing the intervention, India maintained that its legal and democratic systems are fully equipped to address domestic situations without unsolicited foreign counsel.
