India Hits Out At UN Rights Body For 'Baseless' Allegations Over Arrest Of J&K Activist

Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said the authorities in India act against violations of law and not against the legitimate exercise of rights.

India Hits Out At UN Rights Body For 'Baseless' Allegations Over Arrest Of J&K Activist: File Image

New Delhi: India hit out at the UN human rights body on Thursday for its ‘baseless’ allegations over the arrest of an activist in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the comments ‘betray’ a complete lack of understanding of security challenges in the region in view of the cross-border terrorism.

Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said the authorities in India act against violations of law and not against the legitimate exercise of rights.

Bagchi's comments came in the light of a statement made by the Spokesperson of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) over the arrest of the Kashmiri rights activist Khurram Parvez.

"We have seen the statement made by the spokesperson of OHCHR on specific incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. The statement makes baseless and unfounded allegations against law enforcement authorities and security forces of India," he said.

On Wednesday, the OHCHR spokesperson Rupert Colville expressed concern over the arrest of Parvez and even called for ‘prompt, thorough, transparent’ investigations into recent incidents of killings of the civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are deeply concerned with the arrest of the Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez under Indian counter-terrorism legislation, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)," Colville said in a statement.

Refuting the comments by the UN official, Arindam Bagchi said that as a democratic country and with an abiding commitment to protect the human rights of the citizens, India takes all necessary measures to counter cross-border terrorism.

"It also betrays a lack of understanding on the part of the OHCHR of the security challenges faced by India from cross-border terrorism and its impact on the most fundamental human right, 'the right to life' of the citizens, including Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

"Referring to proscribed terrorist organisations as 'armed groups' demonstrates a clear bias on part of the OHCHR," the MEA spokesperson added.

Bagchi said that national security legislations, like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) were enacted by the Parliament to protect the sovereignty of India and ensure security of its citizens.

"The arrest and subsequent detention of the individual referred to in the statement was done entirely as per provisions of law," he said.

"Authorities in India act against violations of law and not against the legitimate exercise of rights. All such actions are strictly in accordance with law," the MEA spokesperson further added.