Row in India over former US President Barack Obama’s comments 

Former US president Barack Obama is facing backlash for comments he made during an interview where he discussed Muslims in India. 

Leaders of India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have offered up their criticisms as well as people voicing their opinions online. Obama’s comments have been widely reported on in India. 

In response to being asked how President Joe Biden should engage with “illiberal democrats,” Obama said India may “start pulling apart” if the right minorities weren’t protected. 

India’s PM Modi was on a US state visit at the time of Obama’s interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. 

Amanpour referred to the “threat to democracy” from so-called “illiberal democrats” before referring to Modi as one. She asked how leaders should engage and deal with them. 

Obama said it was “complicated” before speaking on his own experiences. He said it was “appropriate” for a 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.