Is this statement of the UN chief coming to India a setback for the Modi government?
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that people will take India’s voice seriously on the world stage only when there is a commitment to an inclusive system and human rights within India.
Guterres is on an official tour of India and he said this at IIT Bombay. When the Narendra Modi government is claiming India’s important role in global leadership, this statement of the UN chief is being seen as a setback.
Before reaching IIT Bombay, Guterres had reached the Taj Palace Hotel and there he paid tribute to those killed in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.
Speaking on the topic “India@75: UN India Partnership South-South Cooperation” at IIT Bombay, Guterres said, “When India demonstrates a strong commitment to an inclusive system and human rights at home, only then will its voice be heard on the global stage. Will be taken seriously.
What Guterres said on Human Rights in India
Antonio Guterres said, “India is an elected member of the Human Rights Council and it has a responsibility to guide global human rights and protect the human rights of all individuals, including minorities. The model of pluralism in India is very simple but its understanding is very deep. Diversity is a kind of richness and it makes your country strong. Birthright is with all Indians but it is not guaranteed. It needs to be strengthened every day and in every society. Following the values of Gandhi, everyone’s rights and human dignity should be respected. Especially those who are living in difficult situation. An inclusive, multicultural, multi-religious and multi-racial society must be protected.
However, the UN chief also praised India for its many achievements in the last 75 years. He also praised the policy of the Modi government to deliver the vaccine across the world in the Kovid epidemic.
The UN chief said, “Hate speech must be clearly condemned. The freedom of expression of journalists, human rights activists, students and academics must be protected. Apart from this, the independence of the judiciary of India should also be maintained. The whole world knows India in this way. I urge Indians to be vigilant about safeguarding an inclusive, pluralistic and diverse society.
On Tuesday, just a day before Antonio Guterres was giving these advice to India and Indians, Kashmiri photojournalist Sana Irshad Mattoo tweeted that she was on her way to New York to receive the Pulitzer Prize, when she was met by immigration people at New Delhi airport. stopped.
Why question on Modi government?
Sana wrote in her tweet, “At Delhi airport, I was stopped from international travel by immigration even though I have a valid US visa and ticket. This is the second time I have been unnecessarily stopped. I also contacted the authorities in this matter but no one ever responded. It was an opportunity for me to attend this award ceremony.
The Modi government has also been accused of not protecting the rights and dignity of minorities. Serious questions are also being raised about the release of 11 convicts of the gang-rape with Bilkis Bano and the murder of 14 members of his family. The three-year-old daughter of Bilkis was also among the 14 killed.
This heinous crime was committed with Bilkis Bano and his family on March 3, 2002 in Dahod district after the violence in Godhra, Gujarat.
Many people are alleging that Bilkis Bano is a Muslim and the criminals are a Hindu, so the administration let everyone out of jail. However, the Gujarat government says that this has happened only through the judicial process and there is nothing wrong in it.
