“We call on the authorities and protesters to exercise maximum restraint in ongoing #FarmersProtests,” the UN Human Rights Agency tweeted.
Calling on both protesting farmers and authorities in India to exercise “maximum restraint”, the UN human rights agency on Friday advised finding “equitable solutions” that show respect for human rights.
Joining lawmakers, organisations and governments from around the world that have weighed in on the farmers’ protest in India, the UN office of the high commissioner for human rights headed by Michelle Bachelet said on its official Twitter handle on Friday night: “#India: We call on the authorities and protesters to exercise maximum restraint in ongoing #FarmersProtests. The rights to peaceful assembly & expression should be protected both offline & online. It’s crucial to find equitable solutions with due respect to #HumanRights for all.”
#India: We call on the authorities and protesters to exercise maximum restraint in ongoing #FarmersProtests. The rights to peaceful assembly & expression should be protected both offline & online. It's crucial to find equitable solutions with due respect to #HumanRights for all.
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) February 5, 2021
The development comes after a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier said it was important to respect peaceful protests, freedom of assembly and non-violence.
There was no immediate response from Indian officials to the UN human rights agency’s comments.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the powerful Congressional India Caucus urged the Narendra Modi-led Indian government to ensure that the norms of democracy are maintained and the protesters are allowed to demonstrate peacefully and have access to the Internet, as it discussed the issue of the ongoing farmer’s agitation in the country.
The Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus Brad Sherman said that he convened a meeting with his other Republican Co-Chair Congressman Steve Chabot, and Vice-Chair Congressman Ro Khanna to speak with India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, regarding farmers demonstrations in India.
“I urged the Indian government to make sure that the norms of democracy are maintained and that protesters are allowed to protest peaceably and to have access to the Internet, and to journalists. All friends of India hope that the parties can reach an agreement,” Brad Sherman said.
I urged the Indian government to make sure that the norms of democracy are maintained, that protesters are allowed to protest peaceably and to have access to the Internet, and to journalists. All friends of India hope that the parties can reach an agreement. (2/2)
— Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) February 5, 2021
Thousands of farmers’ have been sitting on the borders of the national capital Delhi for over two months now, protesting against the new farm reforms brought in by the Indian government. There have been multiple rounds of discussions between union ministers and farmer union leaders, but the issues could not have been resolved.
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