‘Arbitrary, unverified’: India rejects UN rapporteur’s allegations on youth protests
New Delhi: India strongly rejected UN special rapporteur Gina Romero’s allegations that young people face retaliation or stigmatisation for speaking out on mental health and gender justice. It called her report arbitrary and questioned its reliance on unnamed sources.
First Secretary Anuj Swarup delivered India’s response at the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee. The exchange came amid protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over voter roll revision.
India defends freedoms
Swarup said India’s Constitution protects citizens’ rights to expression and peaceful assembly.
“In India, these freedoms, together with freedom of speech and expression, are guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 of our Constitution, and are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press, and an empowered National Human Rights Commission,” Swarup said in the dialogue with Romero.
He accused the report of “merely citing unnamed submissions in the footnote.”
“This level of arbitrary report writing is precisely the reason that the United Nations and its institutions have lost credibility,” he added.
Romero’s protest allegations
In posts on X on October 10, Romero alleged that authorities used excessive force against peaceful young protesters and detained them arbitrarily. She also alleged restrictions on the press.
According to Romero, more than 2,500 protesters were sent to detention centres in remote locations without legal assistance. She further alleged torture or sexual abuse.
Swarup rejected the report’s evidentiary basis.
“A sweeping charge against the world’s largest youth population resting on anonymous and unverified claims is not evidence. It is hearsay, dressed up as a UN report, and my delegation rejects it outright,” Swarup further said.
Youth participation cited
The Indian diplomat pointed to young people’s political participation and meetings with senior leaders to challenge the report’s assessment.
“Ironically, the same report notes that young Indians created a satirical political movement. In which repressive state does a satirical youth party question the government, marches on the capital, and then sits across the table with senior national leaders?”
Swarup also referred to UN human rights chief Volker Turk’s September remarks favouring dialogue with young leaders.
Call for verification
Swarup urged Romero to apply greater rigour and fairness.
“Chair, a mandate holder who relies on anonymous inputs to generalise for 1.4 billion people does a disservice to the very mandate she holds. We urge this special rapporteur to verify before she vilifies and to bring the required rigour and fairness in her reports,” he said.