Barack Obama criticized for his remarks on the rights of Muslims in India

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Former US President Barack Obama has come under heavy criticism for his remarks about Muslims in India.

Mr. Obama had said in an interview that the country could “start to separate” if the rights of minorities were not protected.

The ex-US president was responding to a question about how current President Joe Biden should engage with ‘illiberal Democrats’.

Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister, was however in the United States on a state visit at the time of Mr Obama’s remark.

Mr Modi’s three-day visit was marked by a welcome ceremony at the White House, a lavish state dinner and the signing of several crucial agreements.

The Prime Minister also addressed a joint session of the US Congress.

However, Mr. Obama’s remarks, made in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, which aired ahead of the Congressional speech, were widely reported in India.

Ms Amanpour referred to the “threat to democracy” from so-called “illiberal democrats” before naming Mr Modi as such.

“How should a president engage with these kinds of leaders, either appointing them or dealing with them?” She asked.

Mr Obama said it was “complicated”, before referring to his own experience dealing with allies who may not have led “ideally democratic governments” but with whom relations had to be maintained for a a number of reasons.

He added that it was “appropriate” for the US president, when possible, to challenge “trends that are troubling” in public or private.

“If the president is meeting with Prime Minister Modi, then the protection of the Muslim minority in a predominantly Hindu India – that’s something worth mentioning.

“If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be that if you don’t protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, chances are India will start to some time to separate. “, the former American president.

But India’s ruling party leaders lambasted Mr Obama for the comments.

Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s finance minister, also a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said she was “shocked” by Mr. Obama’s remarks.

“When Mr Modi was campaigning in the United States – and by campaign I mean talking about India – a former US president was talking about Indian Muslims,” ​​Ms Sitharaman said.

She added that the United States had bombed Muslim-majority countries, including Syria and Yemen, when Mr. Obama was in power.

Also, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reacted by saying that India has never discriminated against people on the basis of their religion.

“People should try to understand the secular character of India,” Mr Rajnath said.

He explained that people who comment on minority rights in India should “also think about how many Muslim countries they have attacked”.

Mr. Obama and the US government have not publicly commented on these remarks.

At a joint conference attended by Mr Biden, Mr Modi also said there was ‘no room for any discrimination’ under his government, in response to a question about the rights of Muslims and other minorities in India.

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