"As US Prez Barack Obama bombed 6 Muslim nations": Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi, June 25 (HS): union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday from concerns about the persecution of Muslims in India and his response to the issue during a news conference in the United States. She accused Congress and other opposition parties of raising "non-issues, without data" in the aftermath of electoral failures, and she also slammed former US President Barack Obama, questioning his statements on Indian Muslims because the US had "bombed six Muslim-majority nations" during his presidency. "During a press conference in the United States, the Prime Minister stated that his government operates on the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' principle and does not discriminate against any community." However, the truth is that when individuals participate in this debate and emphasise concerns that are, in fact, non-issues," Sitharaman said at a press conference.

"Six of the 13 awards he has received as Prime Minister of the country have come from countries where Muslims are the majority," she remarked. "There are issues to be raised about law and order that are being raised at the state level. It is being looked after by individuals. To simply allege without having basic data in hand tells us that these are well-organized campaigns," the BJP leader remarked. She slammed the opposition, saying, "I think they're running these campaigns because they can't beat the BJP or PM Modi electorally - the Karnataka election result notwithstanding. And the Congress has played a significant role in this in recent elections."

"I was shocked," Sitharaman said of Obama's CNN interview, in which he stated he would bring up the issue of Indian Muslims with Prime Minister Modi. ?When Prime Minister Modi was campaigning in the United States - and by campaigning, I mean speaking about India - a former US President was lecturing about Indian Muslims. I say this with caution because it involves another country. We desire relations with the United States, but we also get comments about religious freedom in India. How will people believe a former President whose rule resulted in the bombing of six Muslim-majority countries with over 26,000 bombs?" she said.

"I find this deliberate attempt to vitiate the atmosphere in this country because they believe they cannot win against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developmental policies," the minister claimed.

Prior to Sitharaman, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also of the BJP, had attacked Obama over his remarks, stating his state police "should prioritise taking care of" the numerous "Hussain Obama" in India, referring to the former US President's Muslim ancestry.

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi