New Delhi: India strongly pushed back against Switzerland at the United Nations after the European nation raised concerns about the treatment of minorities and freedom of expression in India. The sharp response came from Kshitij Tyagi, counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India, who urged Switzerland to first address its own issues of “racism, systematic discrimination, and xenophobia”.
Switzerland’s remarks at the UN
During the UN session on Tuesday, a Swiss delegate called on India to “take effective measures to protect minorities and uphold the rights to the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media”. The comment drew immediate attention as Switzerland currently holds the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
In the Indian context, minorities generally refer to religious groups such as Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, who form smaller proportions of the population compared to the Hindu majority.
India’s response to Switzerland
Responding the next day, Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi dismissed the Swiss remarks as “surprising, shallow, and ill-informed”. He underscored that such statements did not reflect the reality of India’s diverse democratic fabric.
“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,” Tyagi said.
He further advised Switzerland to introspect on its own domestic challenges.
“Instead, it should focus on its own challenges such as racism, systematic discrimination and xenophobia. India remains ready to help Switzerland address these concerns,” he added.
India highlights pluralism
India also reiterated its long-standing position that its democracy and constitutional safeguards protect the rights of all communities. Tyagi described India as a “civilizational embrace of pluralism” and emphasised that the country remains committed to protecting human rights within its borders.
Context of the exchange
The exchange reflects broader tensions at global forums, where Western nations often raise concerns over human rights in developing countries, while India and other nations counter by pointing out challenges within those countries themselves. India has repeatedly argued that it is unfairly targeted despite being the world’s largest democracy with a record of protecting diverse communities.
Conclusion
By calling Switzerland’s remarks ill-informed and urging it to focus on racism and xenophobia at home, India underlined its stance that external commentary should not undermine its domestic realities. The strong rebuttal also highlighted New Delhi’s intent to defend its global image while stressing its pluralistic ethos.