Days after former US President Barack Obama commented on Muslims in India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh retorted back and said that India is the only country that considers all the people living in the world as family members. The comment by Obama on the treatment of Muslims in India, especially at a time when PM Modi was on a state visit to the US, didn't go down well with many, especially Indian politicians.
"Obama ji should not forget that India is the only country which considers all the people living in the world as family members… He should also think about himself as to how many Muslim countries he has attacked," Singh said while addressing a query on Obama’s remark at an event.
Many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, hit out at the former US president.
Sitharaman also defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi on questions related to the treatment of Muslims in the country and his response on the matter during a news conference in the US.
Recommended For You
"...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," she said.
"But comments come from there on India's religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama). More than 26,000 bombs were dropped," the Finance Minister further added.
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stirred controversy by claiming that there are many "Hussain Obamas" in the country and the state police will act according to its priorities.
"There are many Hussain Obama in India itself. We should prioritize taking care of them before considering going to Washington. The Assam police will act according to our own priorities," Sarma tweeted.
Obama, in an interview with CNN, said that if US President Joe Biden met PM Modi, the issue of protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is "something worth mentioning."