‘Ambassadors Retain The Right To Speak In Personal Capacity’: UN Rejects Pakistan’s Demand To Remove Priyanka Chopra

The United Nations has rejected Pakistan’s demand for removing Actress Priyanka Chopra as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for her tweet cheering the Indian Armed Forces and said that she retains the right to speak in her personal capacity on the issues concerning her, reports News18.

According to the report, while responding to a query about Chopra, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson For UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Thursday (22 August) said that when UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador “speak in their personal capacity, they retain the right to speak about issues that interest or concern them,”

"Their personal views or actions do not necessarily reflect those of UNICEF," he said.

However, when the Ambassadors speak on the behalf of the UNICEF, “we expect them to adhere to UNICEF's evidence-based impartial positions,” the spokesperson added.

Earlier on 26 February, after the Indian Air Force’s strike on terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot, Chopra had tweeted “Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces,” followed by emojis of the Indian flag and namaste.

Following the tweet, she was hit by barrage of criticism, especially from Pakistanis. Online petitions were signed calling for her removal from the ambassadorship.

After India abrogated the special status of Kashmir, Pakistan government also intensified criticism of her, with Pakistani Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari writing to UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore demanding Chopra’s removal accusing her of “jingoism and support” for the Indian Armed Forces.