Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 22: India has criticised a United Nations rapporteur over alleged bias and factual inaccuracies in a report on counter-terrorism, calling for strict adherence to standards of impartiality and accountability.
The report by UN Special Rapporteur Ben Saul described Dawood Ibrahim as the head of the “India-based” D-Company criminal gang, which has links to terrorism. India objected to this description, stating that Ibrahim is a wanted criminal who fled India and is based in Pakistan.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Indian diplomat Raghoo Puri expressed serious concern over reports containing factual inaccuracies that, he said, were issued without accountability. He warned that such practices could undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the organisation.
Puri said the report referred to the United Nations Security Council listing the leader of D-Company in 2003 for association with Al-Qaeda but failed to adequately mention that Ibrahim had been wanted in India in connection with terror attacks since 1993.
He said Ibrahim had left India before the 2003 listing and was subsequently listed for his association with Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Puri added that Ibrahim remained a wanted criminal in India and that the UN listing identified him as residing in Pakistan.
India also criticised what it described as the misuse of human rights frameworks by those accused of sponsoring terrorism. Puri stressed that human rights mechanisms should not provide a refuge for perpetrators of terrorism or those promoting radicalisation and extremism, adding that terrorism could never be justified.
Responding to remarks by the Pakistani delegation, Puri rejected its statements concerning India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, describing them as propaganda for narrow political gains. He reiterated India's position that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were integral parts of the country.
On Tuesday, India had also stressed at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee that human rights should not be used as a tool for political pressure or selective targeting of countries.
Delivering India's statement on enforced or involuntary disappearances, Ministry of External Affairs Deputy Secretary Barkha Tamrakar highlighted the constitutional and institutional safeguards available in India to address allegations of human rights violations.