India's swipe at Barack Obama for remark on Indian Muslims: 'Muslim-dominated countries bombed…’
1 min read 25 Jun 2023, 08:14 PM ISTIndian government criticises former US President Barack Obama's remark on Muslim minorities in India during PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US.
PremiumThe Central government on Sunday slammed former US President Barack Obama over his remark on Muslim minorities in India during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, saying many Muslim-dominated were “bombed" under his rule.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, addressing a press conference, said it was “surprising" that former President Barack Obama was making a statement on Indian Muslims when PM Modi was on a visit to the country.
Asserting that she was speaking with caution, Nirmala Sitharaman said India wants a good friendship with the United States. But, Nirmala Sitharaman said, “…comments come from there on India's religious tolerance."
"...It was surprising that when PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian Muslims...I am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US. But comments come from there on India's religious tolerance," Nirmala Sitharaman said.
The finance minister said, “Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama). More than 26,000 bombs were dropped..."
WHAT DID BARACK OBAMA SAY?
Former US President Barack Obama made a reference to the rights of ethnic minorities in India during an interview and said if these are not protected, there is a strong possibility of the country "at some point starts pulling apart".
Barack Obama said if President Joe Biden meets with PM Modi, "the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning".
"By the way, if I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be that if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, then there is a strong possibility that India, at some point, starts pulling apart. And we have seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts. So that would be contrary to the interests not just of Muslim Indians but also Hindu Indians. I think it is important to be able to talk about these things honestly. Things are not going to be as clean as you like, because the world is complicated," Barack Obama said.
