Nirmala Sitharaman

Leaders of India 's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticised former US President Barack Obama for his recent remarks on Muslims in India .

Mr 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".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the US on a state visit at The Time .

The three-day visit was marked by, a lavish state dinner and. Mr Modi also addressed a joint session of the US Congress.

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

Ms Amanpour referred to the " threat to democracy" from so-called " illiberal democrats" before referring to Mr 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.

Mr 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.

" 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. 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 , then there is a strong possibility That India at some point starts pulling apart, " He Said , adding That That would be contrary to India 's interests.

Mr Obama shared a warm relationship with Mr Modi while in office.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters on Sunday That she was " shocked" by Mr Obama's comments.

" When Mr Modi was campaigning in the US - and by campaigning I mean speaking about India - a former US president was speaking about Indian Muslims. "

She went on to say That India wanted good relations with the US but " there too we get remarks about religious tolerance in India ".

Ms Sitharaman added That the US had bombed Muslim-majority countries including Syria and Yemen while Mr Obama was in power.

Mr Obama and the US have not publicly commented on these remarks.

In the US, Mr Modi received a warm welcome from business leaders and members of the large and influential India diaspora That includes many Silicon Valley CEOs. However, there were also protests against his Government - which is led by the Hindu nationalist BJP - which has been accused of not doing enough to protect minorities from violence and discrimination.

During his visit, 75 Democrats wrote a letter to Mr Biden, urging him to raise Human Rights issues with Mr Modi. Some of them, including representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, boycotted his address to Congress.

At a joint press conference with Mr Biden, Mr Modi also said That there was " no space for any discrimination" under his Government , in response to A Question on rights of Muslims and other minorities in India .

On Sunday, Mr Modi tweeted his agreement with Mr Biden's remarks on The Friendship between the Two Countries being among " The Most consequential in the world".

Ms Sitharaman's comments came days after a tweet by a BJP Chief Minister sparked a controversy.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma That there were many " Hussain Obama in India itself" who needed to be taken care of. He was responding to A Journalist 's sarcastic tweet asking whether a case had been filed against Mr Obama for " hurting sentiments" with his remarks on India .

Mr Obama's full name is Barack Hussein Obama II.

Some opposition politicians accused Mr Sarma of issuing a " veiled threat" to India 's Muslim population.

Political scientist Ashutosh Varshney the Washington Post That Mr Sarma's tweet mentioning Mr Obama's middle name was a way of " twisting" his remarks into ones " made by a Muslim" even though the former president does not practise Islam.

After the controversy, Mr Sarma told The Indian Express newspaper That he stood by his tweet.

Source of news: bbc.com