India slams UN Human Rights Chief’s comments on Kashmir, Manipur; calls it ‘unfounded, baseless’

India condemned the UN’s Human Rights Chief Volker Turk’s comments on Kashmir and Manipur expressing concerns over his global update’s generalized remarks for using ‘loose terminology’ and ‘cherry-picking’ the situations.

Calling the remarks “unfounded and baseless”, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva Ambassador Arindam Bagchi said, “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.”

In his global update, Turk had called for "stepped-up efforts" to address violence and displacement in Manipur.

"I also call for stepped-up efforts to address violence and displacement in Manipur, based on dialogue, peacebuilding, and human rights," he had said.

Moreover, Turk also expressed concern over "the use of restrictive laws and harassment against human rights defenders and independent journalists", which he claimed had led to "arbitrary detention and a diminished civic space, including in Kashmir".

He criticized the global update, for "oversimplifying complex issues, sweeping and generalized remarks, usage of loose terminologies, and apparent cherry-picking of situations.”

Bagchi, while criticizing the comments, said the remarks were in strong contrast to ground realities. He dismissed these concerns, saying the people of India have "repeatedly proven wrong such misplaced concerns about us".

He further urged a "better understanding of India and our civilizational ethos of diversity and openness," which, he emphasized, continues to define the country's democratic fabric.

“Unfounded and baseless comments in the update contrast jarringly with ground realities,” news agency ANI quoted Bagchi as saying at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

He highlighted the misrepresentation where Turk erroneously referred to Jammu and Kashmir as Kashmir noting that it is ironic as the region had witnessed remarkable improvements in peace and development.

"This is ironic in a year that stood out for the region’s improving security, record voter turnout in provincial elections, booming tourism, and rapid infrastructure growth," Bagchi said.

"The High Commissioner has sensed a pervasive unease, but we would submit that a key element to addressing this is a long and hard look in the mirror by the Office of the High Commissioner," he said.

Turk's report, which talked about conflicts and human rights concerns from Ukraine and Gaza to Afghanistan and the United States, made no mention of Pakistan.