Geneva - Central News Hub

MEA summons Swiss envoy over anti-India posters in Geneva

At the time when India is serving as the President of the global body G20, the government is taking such incidents seriously…reports Asian Lite News

MEA Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma on Sunday summoned the Swiss Ambassador to India Ralf Heckner and raised the issue of unfounded and malicious anti-India posters in front of the UN building in Geneva, according to sources.

The Swiss Ambassador said that he would convey India’s concerns to Berne with all the seriousness it deserves. Posters in Geneva are part of space provided to all, but in no way endorse the claims, nor reflect the position of the Swiss Government, Heckner said.

The Swiss envoy also added that the posters in Geneva are part of the space provided to all, but in no way endorse the claims, nor reflect the position of the Swiss Government.

Recently, a video went viral on social media where several posters seen outside the United Nations building in Switzerland’s Geneva, claimed that women and minorities in India are treated like “slaves”, among other hateful things.

The viral video shows an Indian student exposing anti-India propaganda in the form of posters in an area that houses the main UN building, United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), and other important offices.

Indians have expressed displeasure on the video, which has received views in thousands. “They can’t stop India now anymore, India is ready to fly to the top of the table. India is rising, India is growing, India is developing,” one user said.

“Many country has problem with India’s strong foreign policy and neutral stance in many issue of present time such as Russia’s military action on Ukraine,matter of Iran and many more,” said another.

At the time when India is serving as the President of the global body G20, the government is taking such incidents seriously.

India has faced such campaigns in multiple countries, with recent reports claiming Khalistani supporters clashing with Indians in Australia. The ‘India Out Campaign’ in the Maldives is another example of such anti-India campaign, media reported.

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Pak diplomats in Geneva face rights abuse charges

The Swissinfo reported that Pakistani officials misused the legitimation card, a special card that diplomats give to their employees and that is issued by the Swiss mission. The officials forced them to agree to work more than 10 hours a week without any compensation

Pakistani embassy diplomats in Geneva have been accused of not paying six Filipino workers for more than 20 years, Swissinfo reported.

These workers accuse the Pakistani mission of violating an assurance. As per the deal, they are eligible to get a proper wage, accommodation and social security.

They had to work for other people also to make enough money to survive in a city like Geneva.

A formal complaint has been filed at the Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office with the assistance from Inter-professional Trade Union.

“For decades, these domestic workers have been silenced by their fear of losing their residence status,” Mirella Falco, head of the SIT workers union, told Swissinfo. “If they are dismissed, they have two months to find another diplomatic employer. If not, they have no choice but to leave or go underground.”

Employees have petitioned Switzerland’s Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis through SIT. In their letter, they expressed their displeasure with the atrocities they had endured and requested the support from Switzerland.

The union is encouraging the government to take steps to put a halt to these abuses, including tightening the regulations governing working conditions and residence permits in the diplomatic community.