Obama smacks down India for religious intolerance, says Gandhi would have been shocked
Obama smacks down India for religious intolerance, says Gandhi would have been shocked
02:33
WASHINGTON: Days after New Delhi received him with euphoria, US President Barack Obama delivered to India an embarrassing smack-down, saying Mahatma Gandhi would have been shocked at the acts of intolerance in the country famed for its diversity.
Obama's remarks came at the annual National Prayer Breakfast meeting where US presidents frequently perorate on religious and human rights, but his highlighting of India so soon after his visit, laced though with praise for its plurality, pointed to his administration's disquiet about instances of bigotry and fanaticism that surface on occasions in India.
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"Michelle and I returned from India — an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity — but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs — acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation," Obama said at the meeting.
Although Obama did not mention any specific religion, the remarks were inevitably thought to refer the resurgence of Hindutva groups during the tenure of the current government, given the US president's recent visit to India and his broad-brush reference during his Siri Fort speech to growing religious extremism across the world.
Obama and Modi in New Delhi (Reuters Photo)
US officials who reviewed the visit had refuted reports that Obama's remark was a parting shot at the Modi-led BJP government, during whose rule religious wingnuts have emerged in recent days to speak with increasing stridency. But his reference to "past years" and "religious faiths of all types" also suggested a broader criticism of intolerance covering previous governments.
Still, the fact that Obama chose to highlight the troubles in India, a vastly more diverse and tolerant country than Saudi Arabia, a perverted monarchy whose monotheistic bigotry successive US presidents have bowed too, must come as a shock to New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi went out of his way to display his personal friendship and warmth on behalf of the country, but that evidently did not prevent Obama from speaking his mind.
In broader remarks, Obama referred to the growing perversion of religion (including Islam and Christianity) across the world, saying "we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge — or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon." He was referring to the army school massacre in Pakistan and the events in Paris following the Charlie Hebdo cartoons.
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Top Comment
Arre Bhidu, Guts hai to China Ko Lecture De, Saudi Arabia Ko lecture De and STOP TAKING THE OATH ON THE BIBLE AND VISITING CHURCHES AFTER THAT, anyways Bhidu abb tere din Khatam Hue, GO BACK TO HAWAI... Read Moresudipta barat
ISIL's (or ISIS) brutal excesses in Iraq and Syria and Nigeria's internecine religious wars, both far more serious issues than stray incidents in India, also came in for mention.
The White House again pushed back against the expected reaction from New Delhi, as it did after Obama's Siri Fort remarks, saying, that both in India and at the National Prayer Breakfast, the President's message was that "freedom of religion is a fundamental freedom, and that every nation is stronger when people of all faiths are free to practice their religion free of persecution and fear and discrimination." The President, was clear this was not unique to "one group, nation or religion."
Indeed, Obama was also critical of the growing anti-semitism in Europe and the Crusades, saying "and lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ."
Which terrorist was caught or killed in India.? Which international terrorists in India are roaming free and calling for Jihad against their neighboring countries? It is easy to speak whatever you want...but difficult to prove.
