‘6 Muslim nations bombed’: Nirmala Sitharaman’s rebuke over Obama’s minorities remark

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday reacted sharply to remarks made by former US President Barack Obama on the state of ethnic minorities in India.

The remarks were made when PM Narendra Modi was on a 3-day visit to the US. Hitting back, Sitharaman said 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to Barack Obama. “It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement about Indian Muslims,” she said.

“I am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US. But comments come from there about India’s religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama),” she added.

“From Syria to Yemen to Saudi to Iraq, did bombing not take place? A war-like situation was developed in 7 countries back then, and 26,000 bombs were dropped. When such leaders comment on India’s religious tolerance, who will take them seriously?” she added.

#WATCH | FM Nirmala Sitharaman says, “…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’sâ€æ pic.twitter.com/6uyC3cikBi — ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023

SITHARAMAN SLAMS OPPOSITION

Taking on the opposition parties, Sitharaman said the leaders go abroad and do not talk in favour of India. “They cannot defeat PM Modi, this is why take on a different route and become part of such discussions,” she said.

Notably, during his recent visit to the US, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the poor and people from minority communities are feeling helpless in India. “Indians do not believe in hating each other. A small group of people who control the system and the media are stoking the flames of hatred,” the former Congress MP said.

WHAT DID OBAMA SAY?

Soon after PM Modi and US President Joe Biden addressed a joint press conference in Washington DC, ex-President Barack Obama had said that if he had a conversation with Modi, he would discuss the rights of ethnic minorities in India and what would happen if their rights were not protected.

“If I had a conversation with Mr 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 India at some point starts pulling apart. And we have seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts. That would be contrary to the interests of India,” he said in an interview with CNN.

The protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India – that’s something worth mentioning,” he said.

PM ON MINORITIES IN INDIA
At a press conference at the White House in Washington, PM Modi said that “there is absolutely no space for discrimination” in India.

PM Modi’s statement came in response to a question by a journalist about the steps being taken by the government to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities.