Modi's Indian Pals Slam Obama Remark On Muslim Rights

Leaders of India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticized former US President Barack Obama for his recent remarks on Muslims in India, Cherylann Mollan and Sharanya Hrishikesh reported for BBC News.

Photo Insert: Muslim properties were burned down during the East Delhi riots in 2020.

Obama said in an interview last week that India may "start pulling apart" if the rights of minorities weren't protected. He was responding to a question on how President Joe Biden should engage with "illiberal democrats."

Obama's remarks, made in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour which was aired before the Congress address, were widely reported in India.

Amanpour referred to the "threat to democracy" from so-called "illiberal democrats" before referring to Modi as one.

"How should a president engage with those kinds of leaders, either in the naming of them or in the dealing with them?" she asked.

Obama said it was "complicated," before referring to his own experience dealing with allies who may not have run "ideally democratic governments" but with whom relations had to be maintained for a number of reasons.

He added that it was "appropriate" for the US president, when possible, to challenge "trends that are troubling" either in public or private.

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