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India rejects UN rights office’s concerns over Delhi protest detentions
Daily Sun Report, Dhaka
Published: 11 Oct 2026, 01:00 PM
Police personnel stand guard at a temporary checkpoint amid ongoing protest demanding the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll irregularities linked to the "special intensive revision" (SIR), near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 11, 2026. Photo: AFP
India has rejected concerns raised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) over the detention of protesters in New Delhi, describing the UN body’s remarks as “unwarranted interference” in the country’s internal affairs.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs said India guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly under its Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order and safety.
The statement came a day after Delhi Police detained more than 2,000 people during protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and several protest leaders were among those detained.
India said the right to peaceful assembly was safeguarded by strong institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media. It added that law enforcement authorities acted in accordance with the law and that courts remained accessible to anyone seeking redress for grievances.
“The OHCHR’s concerns are therefore misplaced and constitute an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of India,” the statement said.
The Indian government also questioned what it described as the UN human rights office’s selective approach to public statements, urging it to pay comparable attention to large-scale protests elsewhere in line with its stated principles of impartiality and non-selectivity.
The diplomatic exchange followed Saturday’s demonstrations in the Indian capital, organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which demanded Kumar’s removal over revisions to electoral rolls. Critics allege the changes disproportionately benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an allegation denied by the BJP and the Election Commission.
The OHCHR had expressed concern over reports of mass detentions involving demonstrators, protest organisers, civil society members, lawyers and journalists. It urged Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and engage in meaningful dialogue to address protesters’ concerns.
Police detained protesters across New Delhi as authorities deployed thousands of security personnel and imposed restrictions on movement and mobile internet services to prevent the planned rally from taking place.