Nirmala Sitharaman refutes Barack Obama’s concerns over Indian Muslims

India’s Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, expressed strong disagreement over former US President Barack Obama’s statements concerning the rights of Indian Muslims.

In a press conference held in New Delhi, Nirmala Sitharaman refuted Barack Obama’s comments, drawing attention to the military actions undertaken during his presidency in six Muslim-majority countries.

The Indian Finance Minister expressed her shock at the ex-President’s statements, made during an interview, where he expressed intent to discuss the plight of Indian Muslims with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She questioned the authenticity of Obama’s concerns, given his military record in Muslim-majority countries. Furthermore, she interpreted his statements as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the atmosphere in India, as a counter to the developmental policies of Prime Minister Modi.

India’s Finance Nirmala Minister Sitharaman criticizes Barack Obama’s remarks on Indian Muslim rights. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Finance (GODL-India)/Wikimedia Commons.

Nirmala Sitharaman, during her address, emphasised PM Modi’s commitment to the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (Together with All, Development for All), underscoring that the current government practices non-discrimination towards any community. She also denounced the opposition parties, including Congress, for stirring controversy on unsubstantiated issues following their electoral defeats.

Obama’s concerns revolved around India potentially “pulling apart” if the rights of its Muslim minority were not upheld. His statements were made in the context of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States. The former American President expressed readiness to discuss with Narendra Modi the issues surrounding the protection of minority rights in India, should an opportunity present itself.

Responding to a presser question about free speech, religious freedom, and discrimination against minority communities in India, PM Narendra Modi stated that as a democratic nation, discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed, or religion was fundamentally against their principles. He reiterated India’s belief in inclusive progress, embodied by the principle of “sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas.”