India’s Firm Reply to Switzerland at UNHRC
At the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, which currently chairs the body, made remarks about India that can only be described as surprising and misplaced.
The Swiss representative called upon India to “protect the rights of minorities” and to “safeguard freedom of speech and media freedom.” At face value, these are generic phrases. But in the UN forum, such remarks carry undertones, and the subtext was clear: Switzerland was indirectly questioning India’s record on pluralism and democracy.
India did not let the statement pass unchallenged. Its representative delivered a reply that was firm, dignified, and cutting at the same time. He expressed regret that “a close friend and partner” like Switzerland had chosen to make superficial, inaccurate and misplaced comments. As the President of UNHRC, Switzerland should not waste the Council’s time by repeating false and fabricated narratives about India, the representative said.
Instead, the Indian delegate advised, Switzerland would do better to focus on its own internal challenges—issues of racism, systemic discrimination, and xenophobia that continue to trouble Swiss society. In a masterstroke, the statement concluded that India, as the world’s largest, most diverse, and vibrant democracy, stands ready to assist Switzerland in addressing these concerns.
The reply was applauded as a textbook example of diplomatic counteroffensive. Without raising its voice, India turned the tables: the accuser was shown the mirror. The punch line was unmistakable—“We know how to celebrate and protect diversity. You shut your own house and put it in order first.”
Why Switzerland spoke out
Switzerland prides itself on its “neutral” global image, but in Geneva—home to hundreds of NGOs—it often echoes the language of rights lobbies. With the UNHRC presidency in its hand, it also wants to appear proactive on global issues. Moreover, though not part of the EU, Switzerland often moves in step with European positions on human rights. In this case, the statement was less about India specifically and more about Switzerland’s own self-projection as a “principled” voice
Why India’s reply matters
New Delhi’s intervention was not just about answering Switzerland; it was about sending a larger message. India will not quietly accept lectures on democracy and pluralism from any quarter, however friendly. A democracy of 1.4 billion people, 22 official languages, hundreds of faiths and cultures does not need lessons on diversity from a country smaller than some of its states.
This episode also highlights the hypocrisy of certain Western narratives. Nations that struggle with rising xenophobia, systemic bias against migrants, and the politics of exclusion are often the first to preach tolerance to others. India’s firm reply exposed this double standard.
A pattern of new assertiveness
What makes this exchange significant is that it is not an isolated case. In recent years, India has consistently responded with firmness whenever outside powers have tried to comment on its internal matters:
Canada: When Canadian leaders made remarks on farmers’ protests and Sikh separatism, India firmly reminded Ottawa about its own issues with radical extremism and interference in India’s sovereignty.
Turkey: When President Erdogan raised Kashmir in the UN, India hit back by pointing to Ankara’s poor human rights record and its treatment of minorities, including Kurds.
OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation): Whenever OIC members issue statements on Kashmir, India flatly rejects them as biased and irrelevant, reminding the world that Kashmir is an internal matter.
Western NGOs and think tanks: Critical reports on Indian democracy or freedoms are regularly countered by pointing to India’s constitutional framework, vibrant elections, and deep-rooted pluralism.
Seen in this light, India’s reply to Switzerland is part of a larger diplomatic trend—an India that is self-assured, unapologetic, and no longer willing to be “lectured.”
The bigger picture
In world politics today, power equations are shifting. The unipolar world dominated by the West is fading; multipolarity is the reality. In this new order, countries like India will be expected to stand their ground. What happened in Geneva is a sign of this confidence.
The essence of India’s response is clear:
Pluralism is not a lesson to be taught to us—it is our civilizational strength.
Diversity is not a slogan—it is our lived reality.
Unity in crisis is not alien to us—it is our democratic practice.
Switzerland’s words may fade in memory. India’s reply, however, will stand as an example of how a confident nation rebuts misplaced criticism—with facts, firmness, and just the right touch of sarcasm.
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