'Worst human rights record and preaching to others', India again criticises Pakistan at UNHRC

News Topical, Digital Desk : India has criticised Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council, saying the country with the worst human rights record in the world should address the widespread state-sponsored persecution and systemic discrimination against religious minorities in its society.

"We find it very ironic that one of the countries with the worst human rights record in the world wants to preach to others," said K.S. Mohammed Hussain, Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission in Geneva, speaking during the general debate at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

He spoke frankly to Pakistan without naming it.

"Their attempts to misuse this prestigious platform with fabricated allegations against India only expose their hypocrisy. Instead of spreading baseless propaganda, they should confront the state-sponsored persecution and systematic discrimination (of religious and ethnic minorities) prevalent in their own societies," Hussain said on Tuesday, without naming any country but clearly referring to Pakistan, whose representative raised the Kashmir issue while speaking before India.

'India is making continuous efforts'

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral part of the country. Hussain also said that India is making continuous efforts to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by its people and to realize sustainable development. We must collectively reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of the VDPA.

The VDPA or Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which was adopted after the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, is an important document that strengthened the foundation laid by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for the promotion and protection of human rights.

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