Controversy erupts in India as Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma mocked Barack Obama calling him “Hussain Obama”, referring to his Muslim identity
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — During his ongoing visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to be haunted by issues related to human rights abuses, the security of minorities, attacks on the free press, and dissent in India.
In an interview with CNN on Thursday, former US President Barack Obama warned that there was a risk of India falling apart if the Muslim minority is not protected.
“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, there is a strong possibility at some point that India starts pulling apart,” he said. “And we’ve seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts.”
He also urged President Joe Biden to raise the issue of the protection of Muslims in India during the meeting with Modi.
“If the President meets with Prime Minister Modi, then the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority-Hindu India, that’s something worth mentioning,” he said.
The issue of the persecution of minorities was also raised during the Modi-Biden joint press conference at the White House on Thursday.
“India has long prided itself as the world’s largest democracy, but there are many human rights groups who say that your government has discriminated against religious minorities and sought to silence its critics,” a reporter from the Wall Street Journal said, asking Modi: “What steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities in your country and to uphold free speech?”
Modi denied that discrimination exists in India on the basis of religion, caste, and creed as democracy is in its DNA.
“Democracy is in our spirit and we live it and it’s written in our Constitution… Our government has taken the basic principles of democracy. And on that basis, our Constitution is made and the entire country runs on that — our Constitution and government,” he claimed.
This is probably the first time when Modi was asked about rights of the minorities at a press conference.
Meanwhile, a controversy has erupted back home as Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma mocked Obama calling him “Hussain Obama”, referring to his Muslim identity.
“There are many Hussain Obamas in India itself. We should prioritise taking care of them before considering going to Washington. The Assam Police will act according to our own priorities,” tweeted Sarma.
The remarks drew a widescale backlash as they were made only a day after Modi claimed in the US that there was no religious discrimination in India.
“As the Prime Minister continues his state visit to the US, a BJP Chief Minister makes a jibe at Muslims, only hours after the PM stressed there was no discrimination against minorities in India. Wonder how this will go down,” tweeted prominent journalist Nidhi Razdan.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also slammed Sarma.
“His insinuation — about President Obama being a Muslim and Indian Muslims need to be taught a lesson — was the question’s premise. What is the PM, MEA and Govt of India’s stand on this?” she tweeted.
