‘Wrong’ to interpret Obama’s religious freedom remarks on govt, defends BJP

BJP on Tuesday said that it would be “wrong” to interpret that US President Barack Obama talked of religious tolerance and freedom in the context of the government led by it as India has been giving lessons to the world on the issue.

“Religious tolerance and freedom is not just a part of the Constitution but has been a big tradition for this country. On religious freedom and religious tolerance, we have been giving lessons to the world for thousands of years.

“I feel there is nothing on the government. If someone is interpreting it wrongly, I feel it would be wrong to do so,” BJP spokesperson G V L Narsimha Rao said.

Using Obama’s comments about religious freedom, Congress on Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning whether he would “listen” to him and ask the Sangh Parivar, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, to stop justifying religious conversions.

“Obama reminds us of Article 25 of Indian Constitution of the right of every citizen of India to progress practice and propagate his religion,” Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh tweeted.

He also thanked Obama for “speaking up for the Indian citizen’s rights to profess practice and propagate his religious belief.”

Targeting the Prime Minister, Singh wrote “Would Modi take his friend Barack’s advice and ask his friends in VHP to shut up and request (RSS Chief) Mohan Bhagwat to stop justifying ‘Ghar Vapsi (religious re-conversions)’?”