India on March 5 summoned Switzerland’s Ambassador to protest against certain posters and banners critical of India that had been displayed near the main offices of the United Nations and Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Government sources said that Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma had “called in” the Swiss Ambassador Ralf Heckner and raised “the issue of unfounded and malicious anti-India posters” in front of the United Nations building in Geneva.
The sources said that Mr. Heckner had said that the posters in Geneva were part of public spaces, but that they did not “reflect the position of the Swiss government”.
According to a video tweeted by an Indian based in Geneva, that was brought to the MEA’s notice, the posters displayed at the plaza or area near the U.N. buildings were written in English and French, and criticised atrocities against minorities, Christians and Dalits, and the government for “state-sponsored” attacks.
In a statement, the Swiss Ambassador said that the “Embassy has conveyed India’s concerns to Berne with all the seriousness it deserves.”
