India has vehemently criticized a recent United Nations report concerning the human rights situation in Myanmar, dismissing its assessment as a ‘blinkered analysis.’ During an Interactive Dialogue at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, Lok Sabha MP Dilip Saikia conveyed India’s unwavering support for initiatives designed to build trust and advance a ‘Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led path’ towards lasting peace, stability, and democratic governance.
Saikia emphasized India’s consistent position, calling for an immediate end to all violence, the release of political prisoners, unhindered delivery of crucial humanitarian assistance, and the initiation of a comprehensive political dialogue. This comes as the UN’s Third Committee deliberates on the deteriorating conditions in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup and the ongoing conflict between the junta and resistance forces.
Representing India as part of a multi-party delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Saikia highlighted India’s ‘people-centric approach’ in its engagement with Myanmar. He strongly objected to what he termed ‘baseless and biased observations’ made against India in the UN Special Rapporteur’s report.
Specifically, Saikia refuted claims linking the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam with displaced persons from Myanmar, asserting that such accusations lack any factual basis. He stated that India ‘rejects such prejudice and blinkered analysis’ from the Special Rapporteur.
The parliamentarian underscored that the escalating security and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar is a ‘matter of deep concern’ for India, particularly due to its significant cross-border implications. These include challenges arising from transnational crimes like drug, arms, and human trafficking.
Furthermore, Saikia warned of an ‘alarming level of radicalisation’ observed among certain displaced populations, which is putting considerable ‘pressure and impact on the law and order situation’ within India. He urged the UN expert to avoid relying on ‘unverified and skewed media reports whose sole purpose appears to be maligning’ India, reminding the committee that India is home to over 200 million Muslims, representing about 10% of the global Muslim population, who live in harmony with people of all faiths.
Saikia provided recent examples of India’s humanitarian efforts, noting that after the March 2025 earthquake, India promptly launched ‘Operation Brahma,’ deploying medical teams and dispatching over 1,000 metric tonnes of relief materials as a first responder. This followed previous humanitarian initiatives, such as ‘Operation Sahayata’ during Typhoon Hiyaki and continuous assistance during other natural calamities.
He reaffirmed India’s commitment to regional peace and stability, its active engagement with ASEAN, and continued support for the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution for the people of Myanmar. India had dispatched two multi-party delegations to the 80th General Assembly, with the second team, led by BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, arriving on October 27. Other members included V. D. Sharma, Rekha Sharma of the BJP, RJD’s Manoj Kumar Jha, DMK’s P Wilson, TMC(M)’s G K Vasan, and AAP’s Sandeep Kumar Pathak.