Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a state visit to the United States, was questioned in a presser about free speech and religious freedom in India. The US reporter also asked the prime minister about discrimination against minority communities and the measures his government was taking to improve the rights of minorities in the country.
Replying to a reporter’s question at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden, PM Modi strongly defended India’s record on democracy, his government’s performance and human rights.
PM Modi dismissed concerns that minority communities were being discriminated against in India. Modi said no Indian citizen is discriminated against on the basis of caste, creed, religion, or gender.
“We are a democracy…India & America both have democracy in our DNA. Democracy is in our spirit & we live it and it’s written in our Constitution…So no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed or religion arises. That is why, India believes in sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas and walks ahead with it..,”
#WATCH | “We are a democracy…India & America both have democracy in our DNA. Democracy is in our spirit & we live it and it’s written in our Constitution…So no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed or religion arises. That is why, India believes in sabka… pic.twitter.com/orVkCVkLLf
— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2023
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Further denying any discrimination against minority communities, he said, “Regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender, there’s absolutely no space for discrimination. That is why, India believes in ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas’ and walks ahead with it.”
The PM emphasised that India’s Constitution serves as the bedrock upon which the nation operates and ensures that every citizen is treated with equality and dignity.
“Our Constitution and our government have always proved that democracy can deliver. And when I say deliver, it is regardless of caste, creed, religion, and gender. There’s absolutely no space for discrimination,” Modi said.
Our government remains resolute in its commitment to upholding the principles of equality and justice, he added.
“In India, the benefits that are provided by the government are accessible to all, whoever deserves them, they are available to everyone without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, age, or geographic location,” Modi said.
Obama says India risks ‘pulling apart’ without minority rights
Earlier in the day, former US president Barack Obama, raised concerns about India as he said that New Delhi risks “pulling apart” if the Muslim minority is not respected. He also called for the matter to be raised with PM Narendra Modi, who is currently on a US visit.
Obama, who is on a visit to Greece where he is holding a weeklong session for emerging global leaders, said that addressing human rights with allies was always “complicated”.
“I think it is true that if the president meets with Prime Minister Modi, then the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority-Hindu India, that’s something worth mentioning,” the first African-American president said in an interview with CNN International anchor Christiane Amanpour.
“If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be that if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, there is a strong possibility at some point that India starts pulling apart,” Obama said.
“We’ve seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts. So that would be contrary to the interests not just of Muslim India but also of Hindu India,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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