India Rebukes Switzerland At UNHRC Over Minority, Expression Remarks

At the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi strongly rebuked Switzerland for its remarks urging India to protect minorities and uphold freedom of expression, calling them "surprising, shallow, and ill-informed." Tyagi urged Switzerland, which holds the UNHRC presidency, to focus instead on its own challenges with racism, systematic discrimination, and xenophobia, offering India's assistance in addressing these issues. He emphasized India as the world’s largest, most diverse, and vibrant democracy with a civilizational embrace of pluralism, rejecting Switzerland's claims as false narratives that do not reflect India's reality. Tyagi also condemned Pakistan as a "failed state" reliant on propaganda and terror, stating India would continue to defend its sovereignty without compromise. The exchange occurred amid deepening India-Swiss ties, including a recently ratified Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement expected to boost investment and job creation in India. The incident highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions and differing international perspectives on human rights issues within the council.