United Nations/Geneva:
India said on Monday that the “concerns” expressed by the UN's top human rights official about the election process are “unwarranted” and do not reflect the reality of the world's largest democracy, as New Delhi emphasized that many around the world are trying to learn from his electoral experience and strives to emulate it.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Arindam Bagchi, said Delhi has taken note of the comments made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on the upcoming general elections in the country.
In his global update to the 55th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk expressed concern about “increasing restrictions on civil space – with human rights defenders, journalists and perceived critics being targeted – as well as hate speech and discrimination against minorities. especially Muslims.”
“However, his concerns in this regard are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the world's largest democracy,” Bagchi said.
Mr Bagchi underlined that in any democracy “argumentation is natural. It is imperative that those in positions of authority do not allow their judgment to be clouded by propaganda.”
The Indian envoy added that the Indian electoral process is characterized by a high level of popular participation and full confidence in the electoral mandate of all. “In fact, we are privileged that many around the world seek to learn from our experiences and strive to emulate them,” he said.
“We have no doubt that, as on countless occasions in the past, the Indian people will freely exercise their vote to elect a government that they believe can best give voice and flight to their aspirations,” said Bagchi.
In his global update, Turk said that in India, with an electorate of 960 million people, the upcoming elections will be unique in scale. “I appreciate the country's secular and democratic traditions and great diversity,” he said.
India goes to the polls for the 2024 general elections, expected to take place between April and May.
Turk, however, expressed concern about “increasing restrictions” on social space and hate speech and discrimination against minorities, especially Muslims.
He emphasized that it is especially important in a pre-electoral context to ensure an open space that respects the meaningful participation of everyone.
He also welcomed last month's Supreme Court decision on campaign finance schemes, upholding the right to information and transparency.
The Supreme Court had ruled that electoral bonds violate citizens' right to access information held by the government and therefore scrapped the seven-year-old scheme.
Mr Bagchi further said that plurality, diversity, inclusivity and openness are at the core of India's democratic polity and constitutional values.
“These are supported by fiercely independent institutions, including a robust judiciary, which aims to protect the rights of all.” He said India, home to 1/6 of humanity, has led from the front with an enduring commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all. “In this endeavor, our approach is guided by our civilizational ethos that the world is one family.”
He noted that this commitment was more recently reflected in India's response to the pandemic by standing by its friends and partners around the world, India's disaster response efforts and support during crises in various countries, its development initiatives around the world and the Indian presidency of the G20 last year. , “where we mainly expressed the concerns of the South.”
“As the world is ravaged by conflict and war, India has been a voice of reason consistently calling for dialogue and diplomacy. Only if peace is given a chance can the most vulnerable hope for a better future, where their basic needs are met and their human rights are protected.'
Mr Bagchi said it is in this spirit that India welcomes the “renewed focus on issues that concern us all, such as reforming multilateral governance structures, including the international financial architecture, improving technical assistance and capacity building, sustainable development and the need for peace. .”
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