Rajnath says Obama should recall ‘how many Muslim countries he attacked’

Former U.S. President Barak Obama’s remarks during a television interview expressing apprehensions over minority rights in India continues to be roundly and publicly criticised in India at the highest levels of government. After Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke out against Mr. Obama’s remarks, reminding the former U.S. President of the “many Muslim countries he has attacked.”

Former U.S. President Barak Obama’s remarks during a television interview expressing apprehensions over minority rights in India continues to be roundly and publicly criticised in India at the highest levels of government. After Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke out against Mr. Obama’s remarks, reminding the former U.S. President of the “many Muslim countries he has attacked.”

“Obama ji should not forget that India is the only country which considers all the people living in the world as family members. He should also think about himself as to how many Muslim countries he has attacked,” Mr. Singh said at an event in Jammu.

Both Ms. Sitharaman and Mr. Singh’s remarks, referencing Mr. Obama’s record in office during the “War on Terror”, follow those of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP vice president Baijayant “Jay” Panda on the same issue.

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Sources in the BJP said that the reaction by the BJP Ministers was due to the fact that Prime Minister Modi had been a state guest of the U.S. Government when these remarks were made and that Mr. Obama was a former President of the same party (Democratic Party) that was heading the administration now.

BJP also feels that with the U.S.-India relationship closer than it has in all these years, the conclusion of defence cooperation agreements and agreements with regard to semiconductors etc, India also has the leverage it did not have in the past to take umbrage at “such commentary”, they added.

“If the Opposition thinks it can orchestrate this kind of narrative while Prime Minister Modi concluded what is easily one of the most significant visits of India’s foreign policy, and that this narrative will not be responded to, they are living in a fool’s paradise,” said a source.