India has said that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) ’s concerns regarding yesterday’s events in Delhi are misplaced and constitute an unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of the country.

In a statement, the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva said that OHCHR should also devote attention to large-scale protests elsewhere, consistent with its mandate of impartiality and non-selectivity. It highlighted that India is the world’s largest democracy, where the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Constitution and safeguarded by robust institutions, an independent judiciary and a free media.

It stressed that, as in every democracy, Indian citizens exercise this right subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order. It added that the authorities act in accordance with the law, and courts remain available to all for redressal of any grievances.