Leaders criticise Obama on 'protecting Muslims in India' remark — here's who said what

Sitharaman said she was shocked that Obama has made such remarks when Modi was visiting the US, aiming to deepen relations. "He was commenting on Indian Muslims... having bombed Muslim-majority countries from Syria to Yemen... during his presidency," Sitharaman said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also hit out at Obama for his remarks and reminded him of the attacks on the Muslim-majority countries during his tenure as the US President.

"Obama ji should not forget that India is the only country which considers all the people living in the world as family members... He should also think about himself as to how many Muslim countries he has attacked," he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "Today, all the sections of the society are developing. Today riots like 1984 are not happening in the country," he said.

Reacting to Obama's remarks, Johnnie Moore, former head of US Commission on International Religious Freedom, said the former president should spend his energy complimenting India more than criticising it.

"India is the most diverse country in human history. It's not a perfect country, just like the US is not a perfect country, but its diversity is its strength... Even in that critique, President Obama couldn't help but also compliment PM Modi, and I certainly understand why, having spent some time with him."

Biden said he discussed human rights and other democratic values with Modi during their talks in the White House. At a press conference with Biden last week, Modi denied any discrimination against minorities under his government.