India Dismisses UN Panel's Allegations on Racial Discrimination
India rejects UNCERD report alleging discrimination against tribal groups, Dalits, and Rohingya refugees, calling it politically motivated.
New Delhi has firmly rejected a United Nations report that alleged discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in India, dismissing the findings as politically motivated and malicious.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) had raised concerns about human rights violations against scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, and Rohingya refugees, and called for action against those involved in hate crimes.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India rejects the references in the report "with all the contempt that it deserves," while reaffirming the country's commitment to combating racial discrimination.
Jaiswal noted that during the review, India highlighted its constitutional safeguards, legal framework, and sustained efforts to protect disadvantaged communities. He added that the inter-ministerial delegation, led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, had already rejected the report's sweeping generalisations and unsubstantiated allegations during the review meeting.
The UN panel had also criticised the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, claiming it led to arbitrary deprivation of citizenship and disproportionately affected Bengali-speaking Muslims. It called for suspending the NRC and reviewing the legislative framework.
The committee further raised concerns about the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision process, alleging that Bengali-speaking Muslim voters were disproportionately impacted in West Bengal and Assam.
India has said it will respond to the committee's observations through established procedures.