India Rejects UN Expert’s Report on Retaliation Against Indian Youth, Calls Claims ‘Hearsay’

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 17: India has strongly disputed a report by a United Nations human rights expert alleging that young people in the country face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health and gender justice, dismissing the claims as unverified and based on hearsay.

Delivering India’s statement during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Anuj Swarup, criticised Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Gina Romero for relying on anonymous submissions to support her assertions.

Swarup argued that allegations conQcerning the world’s largest youth population must be supported by credible evidence rather than unverified accounts.

“A sweeping charge against the world’s largest youth population, resting on anonymous and unverified claims, is not evidence. It is hearsay dressed up as a UN report, and my delegation rejects it outright,” he said.

He urged the Special Rapporteur to exercise greater diligence and impartiality while preparing reports, warning that broad conclusions based on anonymous inputs could undermine the credibility of the UN human rights system.

Romero’s report also referred to a satirical political movement established by Indian youth, identified as the Cockroach Janata Party. It further recorded claims that young people had experienced retaliation or stigmatisation for raising issues related to mental health and gender justice.

Rejecting the report’s conclusions, Swarup questioned the methodology used to substantiate the allegations and said such reporting risked weakening confidence in international institutions.

He maintained that freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly and association are guaranteed under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution. According to him, these rights are safeguarded through the country’s independent judiciary, free press and National Human Rights Commission.

India also challenged the report’s portrayal of the country’s engagement with youth led political activities. Swarup argued that the existence of a satirical political group able to criticise the government, organise demonstrations in the national capital and interact with senior political leaders illustrated the space available for democratic expression.

“In which repressive State does a satirical youth party question the government, marches on the capital, and then sits across the table with senior national leaders,” he asked.

The Indian representative also referred to remarks made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Human Rights Council last month, highlighting the importance of engaging in dialogue with young leaders in the context of youth-led movements in India.

Swarup suggested that the Special Rapporteur’s assessment had not adequately considered such developments.

He cited the government’s response to student protests earlier this summer over alleged irregularities in public examinations as an example of engagement with young people. According to the Indian statement, the government responded through legislative and administrative measures intended to address examination fraud and paper leaks.

Swarup said Parliament amended the Public Examinations Act to double punishments for paper leaks, while the government undertook a broader review of examination systems and established fast-track courts in every state dedicated to prosecuting examination fraud cases.

He presented these measures as evidence of democratic accountability and the government’s willingness to respond to concerns raised by students.

Describing young people as central to the country’s development, Swarup invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on the role of youth in shaping India’s future.

He also highlighted participation in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, stating that more than five million young people took part in the initiative this year and contributed to discussions on national priorities directly with the Prime Minister.

Swarup added that the Prime Minister and several Union ministers regularly engage with young citizens, both through direct interactions and social media platforms.

India’s response at the UN centred on its objection to the use of anonymous submissions as the basis for broad claims about conditions facing young people. New Delhi maintained that international assessments should rely on verified information, balanced analysis and sufficient consideration of the country’s constitutional protections and democratic processes.