Nirmala Sitharaman supported PM Modi’s comments on minorities in India.
New Delhi:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a press conference in the US on questions related to the treatment of Muslims in India and his response on the subject.
Accusing the Congress and other opposition parties of raising “non-issues without data” after the electoral defeat, he also attacked former US President Barack Obama, and questioned his comments on Indian Muslims as the US under his rule. “Bombed were “six Muslim-majority nations”.
“The Hon’ble Prime Minister himself has said in the press conference in the US that his government works on the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and does not discriminate against any community. But the fact is that when people involved in Debate and highlight issues which are in a way non-issues,” Ms Sitharaman said at a press conference.
“Of the 13 awards given to him as the country’s prime minister, six have been given by countries where Muslims are in majority,” he said.
The BJP leader said, “Some issues are being raised at the state level regarding law and order. There are people who are taking care of it. Just making allegations without basic data in hand tells us that these are organized campaigns.” ” ,
Taking a dig at the opposition, he said, “I think they cannot compete with the BJP or PM Modi electorally – irrespective of the Karnataka election result – that’s why they are running this campaign. And the Congress has a big role to play in this.” last few elections.
Hitting out at Mr Obama for his interview with CNN in which he said he would raise the issue of Indian Muslims with PM Modi, Ms Sitharaman said, “I was surprised. When PM Modi was campaigning in the US – And by propaganda, I mean speaking about India – a former US President speaking about Indian Muslims.”
“And I am saying this with restraint because there is another country involved. We want friendship with America but there also we get comments about religious freedom in India. A former president – under whose rule six Muslim- Majority countries were bombed with over 26,000 bombs – how would people believe his allegations?” He said.
“I consider it a deliberate attempt to vitiate the atmosphere in this country as they feel they cannot win against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s developmental policies,” the minister alleged.
Before Ms Sitharaman, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also of the BJP, had hit out at Mr Obama for his comments, saying his state police had to “look after” the many “Hussein Obamas” in India. should be given priority” – highlights the former US President’s Muslim ancestry.