UNITED NATIONS: UN Chief Antonio Guterres chided India during a visit over its human rights record, which critics say has regressed under Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Since Modi came to power in 2014 in Hindu-majority nation of 1.4 billion, campaigners say persecution and hate speech have accelerated against religious minorities, especially for India's 200-million-strong Muslim minority. This is particularly case in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK) since Modi government in 2019 imposed direct rule on restive Muslim-majority region where it has half a million troops stationed, activists say.

 "As an elected member of the Human Rights Council, India has a responsibility to shape global human rights and to protect and promote rights of all individuals, including members of minority communities," Guterres said in a speech in Mumbai.

Though he praised India's achievements 75 years after leaving British rule, Guterres also pointedly said that understanding that "diversity is a richness ... is not a guarantee". "It must be nurtured, strengthened and renewed every day," he said.

Citing independence hero Mahatma Gandhi and India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru both of whom have become hate figures for some in Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party Guterres said their values need to be guarded by "condemning hate speech unequivocally".

India must do this "by protecting rights and freedoms of journalists, human rights activists, students and academics. And by ensuring continued independence of India's judiciary", he said.

"India's voice on global stage can only gain in authority and credibility from a strong commitment to inclusivity and respect for human rights at home," he said, adding that "much more needs to be done to advance gender equality and women's rights".

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 20 2022

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