Washington, D.C.: UN experts have said that India is using excessive repression against protesters during recent demonstrations and that this must stop. At the same time, India has categorically denied such allegations.
Experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and document human rights crises around the world. Although appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, they are able to operate independently.
In this context, in a joint statement issued by more than 20 UN experts, “Although the recent protests in India were peaceful, law enforcement agencies have used force, such as baton charges against unarmed students.
As a result, some of the protesters have been injured. Many have been subjected to ill-treatment. In addition, thousands have been prevented from taking part in the protests. Authorities are preventing peaceful protests from taking place. They are making protesters disappear.
We call on the authorities to immediately stop the use of excessive force, lift the blanket bans imposed on public gatherings, and refrain from misusing digital surveillance methods, including biometric surveillance, as well as shutting down internet services.
We also insist that an independent investigation be conducted into this matter,” it said.
Protests were held in Delhi and other parts of the country last July on behalf of the Cockroach Janata Party, condemning issues including question paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET exam. These protests, which continued for several days with the demand that Dharmendra Pradhan, then the Union Education Minister, resign, came to an end following his resignation.
Following this, protests were carried out by the Cockroach Janata Party condemning the removal of the names of about 130 million voters from the list through the special intensive revision of the voter list, and demanding that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar take responsibility and resign. Protests were also held by opposition parties pressing the same demands.
Following these protests, the government removed Delhi’s Jantar Mantar grounds from the list of places permitted for protests. It also denied permission to hold protests in other areas. UN experts have criticized these actions by the government.
Meanwhile, India has rejected this report by UN experts. Speaking at the UN forum on this matter, India’s representative Barkha Tamrakar said, “India firmly opposes attempts to create a negative image of India, the world’s largest democracy, through unverified allegations, incomplete statistics, and reports that lack an understanding of India.
Human rights should not be used for political pressure or to single out specific countries. Issues related to human rights require an impartial, evidence-based approach,” she said.