India rejects report by UN human rights expert that says Indian youth face retaliation, terms claims as 'hearsay'

India has rejected as “hearsay” a report by a UN human rights expert that has taken note of the “satirical political movement” created by the country’s youth, with New Delhi calling on the expert to "verify" before vilifying issues using unverified claims.

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First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Anuj Swarup, delivered the national statement at the 81st Session of the UNGA Third Committee at the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

Mr. Swarup voiced objection to the report of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Gina Romero, calling out her assertion that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice.

Mr. Swarup said Ms. Romero merely cites "unnamed submissions” in the footnote.

“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 said.

“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.

In her report, Ms. Romero notes that in India, young people created a “satirical political movement”, a reference to the Cockroach Janata Party, and says that “young people from India reported retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice.”

Mr. Swarup further emphasised that “this level of arbitrary report writing is precisely the reason that the United Nations and its institutions have lost credibility.”

He said that in India, these freedoms, together with freedom of speech and expression, are guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 of the Constitution, and are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press, and an empowered National Human Rights Commission.

India also termed the report ironic, taking note of the “satirical political movement” created by the country’s youth.

“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,” Mr. Swarup said.

He pointed to the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ comment in the Human Rights Council last month that dialogue with young leaders is far more effective in the context of youth-led movement in India.

“Perhaps that update escaped the Special Rapporteur's attention,” he said, adding that when students protested this summer over irregularities in public examinations, the government engaged constructively with the youth.

Within weeks, the Indian Parliament amended the Public Examinations Act, doubling punishments for paper leaks, carried out a systemic examination overhaul, and created fast-track courts in every state, specifically dedicated to prosecuting individuals involved in exam fraud, he said.

“This is the true testament of democracy in action. Youth represents our strength and shared future,” he said, as he cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words that youth capability will become India's capability, and their success will take India's success to new heights.

Further, over five million young people took part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue this year, shaping national priorities directly with the Prime Minister.

Several Ministers, including Prime Minister Modi, continue to engage with youth of the country directly and through social media, he said.