India rejects US report on Manipur, terms allegations of human rights abuses as ‘deeply biased’

PTC Web Desk: India has issued a robust rebuttal to a report by the US State Department, categorically rejecting its assertions of “significant human rights abuses” in Manipur following violence in the state last year. The Ministry of External Affairs, in its weekly media briefing, decried the document as deeply biased and reflective of a poor understanding of India. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the report held no credibility and urged others to disregard its findings.

The report in question is part of the ‘2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India’ released by the US State Department annually as mandated by the US Congress. It highlighted the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur as leading to “significant human rights abuses.” Additionally, the report referenced a 60-hour search of BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai on February 14, noting concerns about press freedom. While tax authorities attributed the search to irregularities in the BBC’s tax payments and ownership structure, the report raised alarm about the seizure of equipment from journalists unrelated to financial matters.

India’s strong reaction underscores its commitment to defending its sovereignty and rejecting what it perceives as unwarranted interference in its internal affairs. The government’s dismissal of the report as biased and uninformed reflects its stance on maintaining control over narratives related to human rights within its borders. Furthermore, the rejection of the report serves to safeguard India’s reputation on the international stage and preserve its autonomy in addressing domestic issues.