Guwahati, 24 June: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday drew flak after responding to a journalist’s tweet that included former US President Barack Obama’s opinion on “safeguarding Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India.”
The journalist in a tweet asked, “Has an FIR been filed in Guwahati yet against Obama for hurting sentiment? Is Assam police on it’s way to Washington to get Obama offloaded from some flight and arrest him?”
To this, the chief minister replied, “There are many Hussain Obama in India itself. We should prioritize taking care of them before considering going to Washington. The Assam police will act accordingly to our own priorities.”
It may be mentioned that the full name of the former US President is Barack Hussein Obama.
Assam CM draws flake over “Hussein Obama” tweet. A few politicians have responded to the chief minister’s response which has elicited emotions.
Assam Jatiya Parishad President Lurinjyoti Gogoi saying, “We who care about #india’s image will surely applaud @narendramodi’s statement in #US about the constitution being supreme in #India. But a wannabe PM candidate from BJP shattering it all, by ridiculing an ex US president using his middle name. Will the @PMOIndia tolerate it?”
In a previous interview with CNN, former US President Barack Obama suggested that President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discuss the security of minorities in India. He added that if he were the president, he would have warned the prime minister that if minorities’ rights are protected in India there is a good chance that the nation will be isolated.