India delivered a strong response to Switzerland at the UN after the European nation raised concerns about the treatment of minorities in India. The Swiss delegate urged New Delhi to take measures to “protect minorities” and ensure freedom of expression and media rights.
India, however, dismissed the remarks as “shallow and ill-informed,” calling on Switzerland to focus instead on its own domestic issues.
What Switzerland Said at the UN
During the UN session on Tuesday, Switzerland asked India to:
- Take effective steps to protect minorities.
- Uphold freedom of expression.
- Safeguard the freedom of the media.
In India’s context, minorities generally refer to religious groups such as Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, who make up smaller shares of the population compared to the Hindu majority.
India’s Strong Pushback
Responding the next day, Kshitij Tyagi, counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, rejected the Swiss remarks and highlighted Switzerland’s own challenges.
“We would also like to respond to the surprising, shallow and ill-informed remarks made by Switzerland, a close friend and partner. As it holds the UNHRC presidency, it is all the more important for Switzerland to avoid wasting the council’s time with narratives that are blatantly false and do not do justice to the reality of India. Instead, it should focus on its own challenges such as racism, systematic discrimination and xenophobia.”
Tyagi emphasized that India is a diverse and vibrant democracy with a “civilizational embrace of pluralism.”
“India remains ready to help Switzerland address these concerns,” he added.
India vs Switzerland at the UN
India’s firm stance underlined its refusal to accept external criticism on domestic issues. The exchange reflects the broader debates at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), where countries often face scrutiny over their human rights records.
While Switzerland sought stronger protections for minorities and freedoms in India, New Delhi highlighted Europe’s own struggles with racism, discrimination, and xenophobia.
