India Pushes Back On UN Concerns Regarding Lok Sabha Polls

Photo: X @IndiaUNGeneva

GENEVA (ANI) – India “strongly refuted” the “unwarranted” concerns raised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country.

India’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, said that the comments do not reflect the reality of the largest democracy in the world.

“We thank the High Commissioner for his global update. We have noted his comments about our forthcoming general elections. However, his concerns in this regard are unwarranted and do not reflect the reality of the largest democracy in the world,” Bagchi said.

This comes after the UN High Commissioner in his global update raised ‘concerns’ over “increasing restrictions on the civic space” and “hate speech and discrimination against minorities.”

“In India, with an electorate of 960 million people, the coming election will be unique in scale. I appreciate the country’s secular and democratic traditions and its great diversity. I am, however, concerned by increasing restrictions on the civic space – with human rights defenders, journalists and perceived critics targeted – as well as by hate speech and discrimination against minorities, especially Muslims,” Turk said in his remarks.

“It is particularly important in a pre-electoral context to ensure an open space that respects the meaningful participation of everyone. I welcome the Supreme Court’s decision last month on campaign finance schemes, upholding the right to information and transparency,” he added.

“Plurality, diversity, inclusivity and openness are at the core of our democratic polity and our constitutional values. These are backed by fiercely independent institutions, including a robust judiciary, that aim to protect the rights of all,” Bagchi responded.