UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said security forces have a responsibility to safeguard the right to peaceful assembly, adding that the organisation is closely monitoring developments in New Delhi.
BY PC BUREAU
New York, July 25: The United Nations has called for the protection of people participating in peaceful demonstrations amid the continuing student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, stressing that no one should face intimidation, arrest or violence for exercising the right to peaceful assembly.
Responding to questions during the UN Secretary-General’s daily press briefing on Friday, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organisation was closely following developments in the Indian capital.
“We’re obviously very much aware of the protests that we’ve seen in New Delhi,” Dujarric said.
Emphasising the importance of safeguarding democratic freedoms, he added: “It is important that people wishing to protest peacefully be allowed to do so without the fear of harassment, the fear of arrest, or the fear of injury.”
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric DEMANDS Modi Govt to allow Peaceful Protest WITHOUT – the Fear Of Harassment – The Fear Of Arrest – Or – The Fear Of Injury. pic.twitter.com/KixwcKJPpu
— Dr Ranjan (@DocRGM_) July 25, 2026
He also said law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to uphold those rights.
“And it is incumbent on security forces, there as it is everywhere, to ensure that those rights are protected,” Dujarric said.
The remarks come as student-led protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination continue to draw thousands of demonstrators to Jantar Mantar. Protesters have been demanding accountability for the alleged paper leak scandal and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, turning the protest site into the epicentre of one of the country’s largest student movements in recent years.
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The agitation intensified on July 20 during the “Sansad Chalo” march, when thousands of protesters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. Delhi Police stopped the procession with multiple layers of barricades before using tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the crowd after clashes broke out.
According to police, around 130 personnel and 65 protesters were injured in the violence, and 15 FIRs were registered in connection with the incident. The police have maintained that the force used was necessary to prevent demonstrators from breaching security arrangements in the high-security Parliament area.
The police deployment has remained heavy since then, with around 3,000 personnel stationed in and around Jantar Mantar on any given day to manage crowds that authorities estimate average about 10,000 people daily.
The police action has drawn criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups and student organisations, with several petitions alleging excessive use of force reaching the courts.
The UN’s comments add an international dimension to the debate surrounding the protests, reiterating the global body’s position that governments and security agencies must protect the right to peaceful assembly while maintaining public order.
