India has accused the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of applying “double standards” after it expressed concern over the detention of protesters, civil society members, lawyers and journalists during demonstrations in New Delhi.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected the UN office’s remarks on Sunday, October 11, 2026, describing its concerns as “unwarranted” and an “unacceptable interference” in India’s internal affairs.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal defended the government’s handling of the situation, saying India’s Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, supported by independent institutions, the judiciary and a free media.
He added that the right to protest, as in other democracies, is subject to maintaining public order and safety, and maintained that law enforcement authorities had acted in accordance with the law.
What Did the UN Human Rights Office Say?
The UN Human Rights Office had raised concerns about reports of mass detentions before and during large-scale protests in Delhi on October 10. The demonstrations involved members and supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), along with other individuals protesting over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan urged Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and called for the immediate and unconditional release of people allegedly detained arbitrarily.
The UN office also stressed that restrictions on peaceful protests must meet strict standards of necessity and proportionality.
India Questions the UN Body’s Impartiality
In its response, New Delhi accused the OHCHR of being selective in its public statements on human rights issues.
The MEA argued that violent responses to protests in neighbouring countries, as well as law enforcement actions in the UN body’s own vicinity, had not received comparable attention.
India warned that such alleged inconsistencies could undermine the organisation’s credibility and weaken confidence in multilateral institutions.
Delhi Protests and the Electoral Roll Controversy
The protests were organised amid allegations that revisions to electoral rolls had unfairly affected eligible voters. Protesters demanded accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged irregularities.
The Election Commission and the ruling BJP have rejected allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining that changes to electoral rolls are part of the established revision process.
The demonstrations and the subsequent detentions have triggered a wider debate over electoral transparency, the right to peaceful protest and the limits of police action in a democracy.
The exchange between India and the UN highlights the tension between national sovereignty and international human rights scrutiny. While the Indian government maintains that domestic law and constitutional institutions provide the appropriate mechanisms for addressing grievances, the UN has called for safeguards to protect peaceful assembly and prevent arbitrary detention.
