‘Ready to help Switzerland address racism, xenophobia’: India responds to ‘minority, free speech' remarks

India has given a sharp rebuke to Switzerland at the UN Human Rights Council session after it called on New Delhi to take measures to protect minorities and “uphold freedom of expression” in the country.

Responding to Switzerland, which is the chair of the current UNHRC session, Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi said, “As it holds the UNHRC presidency, it is all the more important for Switzerland to avoid wasting the council’s time with narratives that are blatantly false and do not do justice to the reality of India.”

He said that Switzerland should focus on its own challenges that it faces domestically, and called the country’s remarks on India “shallow and ill-informed.” Tyagi directed Switzerland to focus on its own domestic challenges, pointing to issues such as “racism, systematic discrimination and xenophobia.”

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#WATCH | At the 5th Meeting- 60th Session of Human Rights Council, Indian Diplomat Kshitij Tyagi says, "We would also like to respond to the surprising, shallow and ill-informed remarks made by Switzerland, a close friend and partner. As it holds the UNHRC presidency, it is all… pic.twitter.com/22R1vRJg67

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2025

“As the world’s largest, most diverse and vibrant democracy, with a civilisational embrace of pluralism, India remains ready to help Switzerland address these concerns,” he said.

What did Switzerland say?

During the 60th session of the UNHRC, Switzerland said, “In India, we call on the Government to take effective measures to protect the minorities and uphold the rights to the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media”.

Tyagi also issued a strong rebuttal to Pakistan, describing it as a “failed state” addicted to propaganda and terrorism.

He said, “Our measured and proportionate response to the Pahalagm attack made that sufficiently clear. We need no lessons from a terror sponsor, no sermons from a persecutor of minorities, no advice from a state that has conjured its own credibility. India will continue to protect its citizens with unwavering resolve. We will defend our sovereignty without compromise”.