NEW DELHI: It is increasingly common for external forces to level false allegations of human rights violations against India and this should be opposed strongly, said National Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice Arun Mishra on Tuesday.
He said India has emerged as a powerful entity on a global level and it has got recognition as a new power and this is to the credit of India’s people, its constitutional system and leadership. “Failure by rights defenders and social service organisations to unequivocally condemn political violence and terrorism will engender fundamentalism”, Justice Mishra said, addressing the 28th Foundation Day ceremony of the NHRC here.
The NHRC chief also complimented the “untiring efforts” of home minister Amit Shah for “ushering in a new age” and fostering peace in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast.
“The murders of innocent people cannot be glorified. For such terrorists to be referred to as freedom fighters is wrong. Social service organisations and human rights defenders should join forces to condemn political violence and terrorism. Apathy on this issue engenders fundamentalism and history will never forgive us for this,” Justice Mishra said, adding that the 20th century has witnessed nearly 12 crore victims of political violence across the globe.
“India has the spirit of ‘Sarvadharma Sambhav’ (harmony of religions). Everyone has freedom to build a temple or mosque or a church. But in many countries, such liberties are not there…,” he said.
The rights panel chief also said NHRC has been working in India for 28 years even when many powerful nations still do not have such an institution.
Adding that the press, media and cyberspace have been given freedom in the country, which is within the obligations of constitutional duties and human responsibilities, Justice Mishra said, “But no one has the freedom to destroy the prestige of the Republic’s fundamental pillar, the judiciary, through contemptuous behaviour, and neither should anyone be given this freedom.”
He said India has emerged as a powerful entity on a global level and it has got recognition as a new power and this is to the credit of India’s people, its constitutional system and leadership. “Failure by rights defenders and social service organisations to unequivocally condemn political violence and terrorism will engender fundamentalism”, Justice Mishra said, addressing the 28th Foundation Day ceremony of the NHRC here.
The NHRC chief also complimented the “untiring efforts” of home minister Amit Shah for “ushering in a new age” and fostering peace in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast.
“The murders of innocent people cannot be glorified. For such terrorists to be referred to as freedom fighters is wrong. Social service organisations and human rights defenders should join forces to condemn political violence and terrorism. Apathy on this issue engenders fundamentalism and history will never forgive us for this,” Justice Mishra said, adding that the 20th century has witnessed nearly 12 crore victims of political violence across the globe.
“India has the spirit of ‘Sarvadharma Sambhav’ (harmony of religions). Everyone has freedom to build a temple or mosque or a church. But in many countries, such liberties are not there…,” he said.
The rights panel chief also said NHRC has been working in India for 28 years even when many powerful nations still do not have such an institution.
Adding that the press, media and cyberspace have been given freedom in the country, which is within the obligations of constitutional duties and human responsibilities, Justice Mishra said, “But no one has the freedom to destroy the prestige of the Republic’s fundamental pillar, the judiciary, through contemptuous behaviour, and neither should anyone be given this freedom.”
