India has strongly rejected a UN report by Special Rapporteur Gina Romero that claimed young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health and gender justice. Speaking at the 81st Session of the UNGA Third Committee, Indian diplomat Anuj Swarup dismissed the assertions as hearsay based on anonymous and unverified claims. Swarup emphasized that such arbitrary reporting damages the credibility of UN institutions, while reaffirming that fundamental freedoms are firmly protected under the Indian Constitution and supported by democratic engagement.

India has strongly rejected a UN report by Special Rapporteur Gina Romero that claimed young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health and gender justice. Speaking at the 81st Session of the UNGA Third Committee, Indian diplomat Anuj Swarup dismissed the assertions as hearsay based on anonymous and unverified claims. Swarup emphasized that such arbitrary reporting damages the credibility of UN institutions, while reaffirming that fundamental freedoms are firmly protected under the Indian Constitution and supported by democratic engagement.

India has strongly rejected a UN report by Special Rapporteur Gina Romero that claimed young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health and gender justice. Speaking at the 81st Session of the UNGA Third Committee, Indian diplomat Anuj Swarup dismissed the assertions as hearsay based on anonymous and unverified claims. Swarup emphasized that such arbitrary reporting damages the credibility of UN institutions, while reaffirming that fundamental freedoms are firmly protected under the Indian Constitution and supported by democratic engagement.

India voiced an objection to the report by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, Gina Romero, calling out her assertion that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice.

New Delhi also rejected as "hearsay" the report by the UN human rights expert, which took note of a "satirical political movement" created by the country's youth, calling on the expert to "verify before vilifying" issues using unverified claims.

First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Anuj Swarup delivered the national statement at the 81st Session of the UNGA Third Committee during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

Swarup voiced an objection to the report of Special Rapporteur Gina Romero, calling out her assertion that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice.

Swarup said Romero merely cites "unnamed submissions" in the footnote.

"A sweeping charge against the world's largest youth population, resting on anonymous and unverified claims, is not evidence. It is hearsay dressed up as a UN report, and my delegation rejects it outright," Swarup was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

"A mandate holder who relies on anonymous inputs to generalise for 1.4 billion people does a disservice to the very mandate she holds. We urge this Special Rapporteur to verify before she vilifies and to bring the required rigour and fairness to her reports," he reportedly added.

In her report, Romero notes that in India, young people created a "satirical political movement"—a reference to the Cockroach Janata Party—and said that "young people from India reported retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice."

Swarup further emphasised that "this level of arbitrary report writing is precisely the reason that the United Nations and its institutions have lost credibility."

He said that in India, these freedoms, together with freedom of speech and expression, are guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 of the Constitution, and are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press, and an empowered National Human Rights Commission.

India also termed the report ironic for taking note of the "satirical political movement" created by the country's youth.

"In which repressive State does a satirical youth party question the government, march on the capital, and then sit across the table with senior national leaders?" Swarup said.

He pointed to the High Commissioner for Human Rights' comment in the Human Rights Council last month that dialogue with young leaders is far more effective in the context of the youth-led movement in India.

"Perhaps that update escaped the Special Rapporteur's attention," he said, adding that when students protested this summer over irregularities in public examinations, the government engaged constructively with the youth.

Within weeks, the Indian Parliament amended the Public Examinations Act, doubling punishments for paper leaks, carried out a systemic examination overhaul, and created fast-track courts in every state specifically dedicated to prosecuting individuals involved in exam fraud, he said.

"This is a true testament to democracy in action. Youth represents our strength and shared future," he said, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words that youth capability will become India's capability, and their success will take India's success to new heights.

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