‘Showed Utmost Respect For Farmers' Protests, Remained Engaged In Dialogue’: India At UN HRC

The statements came after Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that charges of sedition against journalists and activists for reporting or commenting on the farmers' protests, and attempts to curb freedom of expression on social media, are "disturbing departures from essential human rights principles."

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New Delhi: The union government has shown utmost respect for farmers' protests and has been engaged in dialogue with them to address their concerns over the Farm Laws, India told United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday.

Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India, was speaking at the General Debate on Oral Update of the High Commissioner at the 46th Session of Human Rights Council.  He said that India aims to double the income of farmers by 2024. The purpose of bringing the three agrarian laws is to aid farmers in realising better price for their harvest and enhance their income.

"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," Pandey said.

Speaking about the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the envoy emphasised that the change made in August 2019 was a "historic decision" which has been welcomed by the people of India, including people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"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," he added.

It was further stated that there has been a significant decline in terrorist attacks and progressive national laws have also been extended to the union territory to enable the citizens there to exercise the same rights as the people in the rest of India.

The statements came after Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that charges of sedition against journalists and activists for reporting or commenting on the farmers' protests, and attempts to curb freedom of expression on social media, are "disturbing departures from essential human rights principles."

"Given these developments, 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 envoy said.

"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," he added.

Meanwhile, farmers' protests against the agrarian laws continue at the bordering areas of the national capital, along with a show of strength in Mahapanchayats after the government's proposal of stalling the implementation for 18 months was rejected by the protesting organisations.

(With Agency Inputs)