Manipur | India rejects 'unwarranted and misleading' comments of U.N. experts

India rejects U.N. experts' comments on Manipur as "unwarranted, presumptive and misleading". Indian mission expresses disappointment and surprise that the SPMHs issued press release without waiting for Indian govt. response. U.N. experts "appalled" by reports of gender-based violence, inadequate humanitarian response.

India has strongly rejected comments by U.N. experts on Manipur, terming them “unwarranted, presumptive and misleading” and asserting that the situation in the Northeast State is peaceful.

In the note verbale issued on Monday to the Special Procedures Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Indian mission underscored that the situation in Manipur was peaceful and stable and the Indian government was committed to taking requisite steps to maintain peace and stability.

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"The Government is also committed to protecting the human rights of the people of India, including the people of Manipur,” it said.

“The Permanent Mission of India completely rejects the news release as it is not only unwarranted, presumptive and misleading but also betrays a complete lack of understanding on the situation in Manipur and the steps taken by Government of India to address it,” said the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.

India’s response came after a group of U.N. experts raised alarm about reports of “serious human rights violations and abuses” in Manipur, including alleged acts of sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, home destruction, forced displacement, torture and ill-treatment.

Rejecting the news release by the Special Procedure Mandate Holders (SPMH) titled ‘India: U.N. experts alarmed by continuing abuses in Manipur’, the Permanent Mission of India expressed disappointment and surprise that the SPMHs chose to issue the press release without waiting for the 60 days period for the Indian government to respond to a joint communication issued on the same topic on August 29, 2023.