Now Reading: India rejects UNCERD remarks as politically motivated
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India rejects UNCERD remarks as politically motivated
India on Wednesday rejected observations made by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD), calling them 'politically motivated' and 'highly malicious'. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded…
India on Wednesday rejected observations made by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD), calling them 'politically motivated' and 'highly malicious'. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded after the committee raised concerns about violations against ethnic and ethno-religious groups, including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Dalits, and non-citizens.
The committee, following India's 11th periodic review under ICERD in Geneva on August 11-12, noted an increase in incidents against Bengali-speaking Muslims and called for accountability. India sent Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to lead its delegation, stressing constitutional safeguards and pluralistic ethos.
The MEA stated the delegation had already rejected sweeping generalisations and unsubstantiated allegations during the review. India will respond through established procedures.
Indian Opinion Analysis
This is not the first time India has clashed with UN treaty bodies over domestic rights records. Under the ICERD framework, states parties submit periodic reports and face expert scrutiny, but recommendations are non-binding. The MEA's sharp language signals discomfort with what it sees as overreach beyond the convention's mandate. The next step will be India's formal written response to the committee's observations, due within a year, which may shape future dialogue on caste discrimination as a racial issue, a position India has historically opposed at UN forums.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
