Sangh frowns on Obama’s advice

While the Congress and a number of non-NDA parties welcomed US President Barack Obama’s call to the youth of India to preserve the freedom to choose faith, a section of the Sangh Parivar leadership frowned at him.

A controversy erupted over a statement by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that Obama should not lecture India on religious tolerance.

“He should mind his own business. Two million Hindus who are working there (in the US) are not allowed to build their temples; they are not allowed to celebrate Diwali. He only gives lectures here.

“He says in America they have worked out a harmony. In America, the majority is brutalising the minority. In India, for 800 years, the Islamic minority was brutalising the majority Hindus,” said Swamy.

He added that minorities are giving Hindus “difficulties in Kashmir, in Malappuram in Kerala, in small town panchayats in Tamil Nadu.”

The Congress vehemently criticised such statements from BJP leaders and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to control the ‘lumpen’ elements of bis party, the BJP.

“We are happy that Obama upheld the fundamentals of Indian Constitution while addressing youngsters,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjhewala.

He urged Modi to listen to the “guest’s voice” and take necessary course correction from unilateralism to India’s inherent pluralism.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad said Obama had to sermonise the country of Mahatma Gandhi about pluralism.

“A big danger is hovering over our country as it is being divided in the name of religion.

“They (BJP) have come up with the bogey of conversion to remain in power. Thanks to Obama, we have recognised the true colours of Narendra Modi,” he said.

BSP supremo Mayawati also welcomed Obama’s comments. “BJP’s communal and divisive face and character has not changed even after it came to power at the Centre...

“This was earlier a matter of concern for countrymen and now most of the countries also appear to be worried about it,” she said in a statement.

Obama had told youngsters to allow people to freely profess, practise and propagate religion.

“India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith, as long as it is not splintered along any lines, and it is unified as one nation,” he had said in an address at Siri Fort here on Tuesday.