UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Raises Concern Over Misuse Of Sedition Law In India, Attempts To Curb Free Speech

The remarks were made during the 46th session of the Human Rights Council while referring to the farmers' protest in India.

During her speech, Bachelet also expressed concern over passing of the Farm Laws without much stakeholder consultation in the following words:

"In India, continued protests by hundreds of thousands of farmers highlight the importance of ensuring laws and policies are based on meaningful consultations with those concerned. I trust that ongoing dialogue efforts by both sides will lead to an equitable solution to this crisis that respects the rights of all."

She also commented on the grim situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, created by suspension of high speed mobile internet for more than a year in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.

She said,

"We continue to monitor the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, where restrictions on communications, and clampdowns on civil society activists, remain of concern. Despite recent restoration of 4G access for mobile phones, the communications blockade has seriously hampered civic participation, as well as business, livelihoods, education, and access to health-care and medical information."

She also condemned the raids carried out by the National Investigation Agency last year at the offices and homes of several human rights organisations like the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), NGO Athrout, and daily newspaper Greater Kashmir.

Raids were also conducted at the houses of Parveena Ahanger, Chairperson of APDP; Khurram Parvez, Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), and JKCCS members Parvez Ahmad Bukhari and Parvez Ahmad Matta.

Bachelet said,

"Raids against human rights defenders in October and November exemplify the continued restrictions on civil society, and resulting impact on the rights of the people of Kashmir to impart and receive information, and to engage in free, open debate on Government policies affecting them."

India's representative to the Human Rights Council expressed disappointment on the above remarks. In response to the oral update, it stated,

"We were perplexed to note some of the comments by the High Commissioner. She appeared as oblivious of the enormous efforts made by my Government to address the challenges, as indeed of many of the factors driving these challenges. The unprovoked violence on our Republic Day in the name of farmers' rights, apparently, left her unmoved. Her indifference to terrorism is, of course, not new. Objectivity and impartiality have to be the hallmarks of any Human Rights assessment. We are sorry to see that the High Commissioner's oral update is lacking in both."

On the allegation of passing the farm laws without consultation, the Indian representative said,

"The Government of India has set a goal of doubling the income of farmers by 2024. The purpose of enacting three Farm Acts is to enable farmers to realise better price for their produce and enhance their income. It will particularly benefit small farmers and offer more choices to those farmers who opt for them. The Government has shown utmost respect for protests by farmers and has remained engaged in dialogue with them to address their concerns."

So far as the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, the representative informed the Council that constitutional changes in its status has been welcomed by the people of India, including people of the newly formed UTs.

"It has given impetus to socio-economic development, end decades of discrimination and combat cross border terrorism, which has been the key hindrance in full enjoyment of human rights by the people. We have restored grassroots democracy, through District Development Council (DDC) elections, and provided good governance through the 'Back to Village' initiative. There has been a significant decline in terrorist attacks and progressive national laws have been extended to Jammu & Kashmir to enable the people there to enjoy the same rights as the people in rest of India," the representative added.

Read Full Statement Here