India on Wednesday issued a strong rebuke to Switzerland after the nation raised concerns over the protection of minorities and freedom of expression in India during a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva. Responding sharply, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Kshitij Tyagi, called the remarks “shallow and ill-informed” and urged Switzerland to turn the lens inward. 

“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. Instead, it should focus on its own challenges such as racism, systematic discrimination and xenophobia,” Tyagi said at the 5th meeting of the Council’s 60th session.

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

Stronger India-Swiss ties

The exchange comes at a time of deepening India-Swiss ties. Earlier this year, the two nations concluded the long-awaited Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), ratified by Switzerland in July. The pact, set to take effect in October, is projected to bring $100 billion in investment to India over 15 years and create one million jobs.

India bashes Pakistan

During the same session, Tyagi also delivered a blistering rebuttal to Pakistan, denouncing it as a “failed state” reliant on propaganda and terror. “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,” he said. Recalling the Pahalgam attack, Tyagi underscored that India would continue to defend its sovereignty “without compromise” and expose Pakistan’s “elaborate deception” at multilateral forums.