AMN
A day after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights criticised the Indian government’s plan to deport Rohingya refugees, Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN on Tuesday stated that enforcing laws should not be mistaken for lack of compassion and expressed regret that the UN body had overlooked the central role of terrorism. Akbaruddin also insisted that India is concerned about illegal migrants, in particular, with the possibility that they could pose security challenges.
Assessments of human rights should not be a matter of political convenience. Akbaruddin was quoted as saying by ANI that we believe achieving human rights goals calls for objective consideration, balanced judgements, and verification of facts.
Addressing UN Human Rights Council’s 36th session in Geneva yesterday, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein had flayed any attempts by India to deport Rohingyas to Myanmar when the ethnic minority community is facing violence in their country. He said that India cannot carry out collective expulsions and return people to a place where they face persecution.
Earlier, India’s Permanent Representative of India to UN at Geneva, Ambassador Rajiv K. Chander said, assessments of human rights should not be a matter of political convenience. He said, the central role of terrorism is once again being overlooked. The Ambassador said, like many other nations, India is concerned about illegal migrants, with the possibility that they could pose security challenges. India believes that achieving human rights goals calls for objective consideration, balanced judgments and verification of facts. Mr Chander said, there appears to be inadequate appreciation of the freedoms and rights that are guaranteed and practised daily in India.