On Tuesday, the Govt brushed aside remarks by United Nations high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet on alleged misuse of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), saying that India was a democratic polity based on the rule of law & an independent judiciary.

The Govt also reminded the UN human rights chief that framing of laws was a sovereign prerogative.

MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that “Violations of law, however, cannot be condoned under the pretext of human rights. A more informed view of the matter was expected of a UN body".

Alleging that FCRA was being used to “deter or punish NGOs” for human rights reporting, Bachelet had called for India to review the Act. “Constructive criticism is the lifeblood of democracy. Even if the authorities find it uncomfortable, it should never be criminalised or outlawed,” Bachelet had said in her remarks.

Countering Bachelet, sources here said India was a vibrant & pluralistic democracy with a robust domestic grievance redressal mechanism, overseen by an independent judiciary & a Category ‘A’ National Human Rights Commission compliant with the Paris Principles. 

The source, elaborating on India’s response said that “These mechanisms are fully capable of addressing all allegations of violations of human rights anywhere in India. India has been at the forefront of the promotion & protection of human rights in line with its international obligations & remains committed to doing so in the future".

Bachelet had urged India to ensure that no one is detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression & peaceful assembly - & to do its utmost, in law & policy, to protect India’s robust civil society.

She said that “I also urge the authorities to carefully review the FCRA for its compliance with international human rights standards & to release people charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for simply exercising basic human rights that India is obligated to protect".

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Picture Source : <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_Michelle_Bachelet.jpg">Gobierno de Chile</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/cl/deed.en">CC BY 3.0 CL</a>, via Wikimedia Commons