‘Western Human Rights Norms Can’t Be Applied in India’: Amit Shah

“India has an inbuilt framework of human rights,” Shah said.

File photo of Home Minister Amit Shah.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook.com/BharatiyaJanataParty)

Home Minister Amit Shah, on Saturday, 12 October, said human rights policies in India must focus as much on the rights of civilians killed by militants or Maoists as it does on atrocities by the police and custodial deaths.

Shah further explained that human rights, as a concept, applied differently in India and globally.

The Union Home Minister called for a broader definition of ‘human rights’ and said the Indian motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) has both the protection and the promotion of human rights inherent in it. He made these comments, while addressing the 26th Foundation Day celebrations of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), where he was the chief guest.

Emphasising that western standards of human rights could not be blindly applied to India, Shah said, “Women not having access to toilets and safe methods of cooking” is a human rights issue as well, reported The Indian Express. He also said,

“Women not having access to toilets and safe methods of cooking is a human rights issue. Modi government has ensured upliftment of millions of individuals from these situations,” Shah said.

He further said that under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance, India will soon be in a place where there will be no human right violations.

“India has an inbuilt framework of human rights. Our family values have special protection of women and children, and villages look after the poor believing it to be part of their dharma.”

Amit Shah at NHRC.

The minister also asked NHRC Chairman HL Dattu to consider giving space to people working towards protection of human rights in the larger context of human rights ecosystem of India.

(With inputs from PTI and The Indian Express)