In a rare joint press conference with US President Joe Biden on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied that discrimination against minorities existed under his government in India, in response to a question posed by a journalist.
While interacting with reporters at the joint press conference with Joe Biden after the two leaders held bilateral talks, PM Modi spoke at length about how the two biggest democracies of the world can contribute towards global peace, stability and prosperity.
When asked what India will do to improve the rights of religious minorities, PM Modi said, "I am surprised at what you said. We are a democracy. Democracy is part of our spirit, our blood. We live and breathe democracy. And it is in our constitution".
"If there are no human values and human rights, there is no democracy... When we live democracy, there is no question of discrimination," he said.
He further said, "Our government can deliver and when we deliver there is no discrimination on caste, creed, religion". Quoting the government's motto of "Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas (development for all and trust from all)", he said that everyone has access to amenities "irrespective of religion, caste, age or geography."
Ahead of the meeting between the two leaders, as many as 75 Democratic senators and members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to US President Joe Biden and asked him to raise human rights issues with PM Modi, according to a report published by Hindustan Times.
"We do not endorse any particular Indian leader or political party — that is the decision of the people of India — but we do stand in support of the important principles that should be a core part of American foreign policy," the letter read.
Biden said he discussed human rights and other democratic values with Modi during their talks in the White House.
Protests amid Modi's US visit
Meanwhile, dozens of protestors gathered near the White House on Thursday.
"Modi should think why that was the first question asked to him in the press briefing. It's obvious to all there is rights abuse in India," said Ajit Sahi, a protester and advocacy director at the Indian American Muslim Council, according to a report by Reuters.
"Modi's comments (that there is no religious discrimination by his government) is a complete lie. India has become a black-hole for religious minorities," the Reuters report quoted Raqib Hameed Naik, the founder of Hindutva Watch, a group that monitors reports of attacks on Indian minorities.
The only two Muslim women members of the U.S. Congress - Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib - along with some other progressive lawmakers like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, boycotted Modi's address to the Congress on Thursday, citing allegations of targetting of religious minorities, especially Muslims.
Referring to India's rank on the World Press Freedom Index and raids on BBC India's offices in light of the documentary on Modi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had said that US Congress should not extend invitations for individuals with "deeply troubling human rights records".
Meanwhile, Former US President Barack Obama said that it was appropriate for President Biden to bring up "troubling" concerns about the Indian democracy, in an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. He said that protecting the rights of minority groups was essential.
"I do think that it is appropriate for the president of the United States, where he or she can, to uphold those principles and to challenge - whether behind closed doors or in public - trends that are troubling," Obama further said.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Joe Biden and the First Lady.
