UN panel report on minorities is politically motivated: Govt

NEW DELHI: India has rejected as politically motivated and highly malicious observations made by a UN committee on the alleged targeting of minority communities and Rohingya refugees.UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination had “highlighted” in a report the increase in law enforcement operations targeting “Rohingya, Bengali-speaking Muslims, migrants and asylum-seekers, particularly following the 2017 home affairs order and the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir”.Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India rejects any politically motivated, highly malicious references in the report with all the contempt that it deserves.”Taking note of the press release issued by the committee after India’s periodic review, the ministry said this was a routine “treaty-body” review, and India had participated in the spirit of constructive engagement. The official also said India’s commitment to combating racial discrimination remained unwavering.Govt had highlighted India’s “constitutional safeguards, robust legal framework, pluralism and sustained efforts to protect disadvantaged communities”.“While we will respond to the committee’s observations through the established procedure, the inter-ministerial delegation, which was led by solicitor general Tushar Mehta, had already rejected the sweeping generalisations, unsubstantiated allegations or tendency to exceed the convention’s mandate during the review meeting,” said the official.“Our mission in Geneva had already issued a detailed press release following the review,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.