"There are many Hussain Obamas here", Himanta Sarma's tweet trigger controversy
Assam: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stirred controversy on Friday with a remark following former US President Barack Obama's recent comments on the protection of Muslims in India. Sarma claimed that there are many "Hussain Obamas" in the country and stated that the state police would act according to its priorities. The opposition criticized the Assam Chief Minister's statement.
Sarma's remark came in response to a journalist's tweet regarding Obama's interview with CNN on Thursday, where the former US President mentioned the importance of protecting the Muslim minority in a predominantly Hindu India if he were to meet with US President Joe Biden.
The journalist Rohini Singh's sarcastic tweet questioned whether an FIR (First Information Report) had been filed in Guwahati against Obama for allegedly hurting sentiments. The tweet appeared to allude to the filing of FIRs against opposition leaders in Assam for their remarks in various parts of the country.
In reply, Sarma tweeted, "There are many Hussain Obamas in India itself. We should prioritize taking care of them before considering going to Washington. The Assam police will act according to our own priorities."
Sarma's comment followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement at a joint White House press conference with President Biden, where he claimed that there is no discrimination in India based on caste or religion, as his government adheres to the Constitution, which is founded on the principles of democracy.
Opposition leaders reacted to Sarma's remark. Congress spokesperson and social media head Supriya Shrinate questioned the Indian government's stance on the matter and referred to Sarma's insinuation about President Obama being Muslim and the need to teach Indian Muslims a lesson.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticized Sarma's tweet, implying that it confirmed the validity of Barack Obama's comments.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale highlighted the perceived contradiction between Prime Minister Modi's statement on non-discrimination and Sarma's remark, characterizing it as a veiled threat and exposing the alleged hypocrisy and lies of the Indian government on the international stage.
Barack Obama's comments in the CNN interview expressed concerns that India may face division if the rights of religious and ethnic minorities are not protected. He emphasized the need to safeguard the rights of ethnic minorities in India to prevent potential fragmentation within the country.
The controversial remark made by Chief Minister Sarma has sparked a heated debate, drawing attention to issues of religious tolerance and minority rights in India.
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 according to our own priorities. https://t.co/flGy2VY1eC
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 23, 2023
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4 killed as SUV rams into truck in Jharkhand's Hazaribag
Hazaribag (PTI): Four people were killed after their SUV rammed into a truck in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Saturday, police said.
The accident happened around 6 pm on NH-2 in Danua Valley in the Chouparan police station area, they said.
"The accident happened due to speeding and the SUV driver's attempt to overtake the truck, during which he lost control of the vehicle," said Saroj Kumar Singh, the officer-in-charge of the Chouparan police station.
The deceased are yet to be identified, he said, adding that the car has a Dhanbad registration.
Singh said the impact of the collision was such that the SUV was badly damaged.
"The bodies of the victims were retrieved from the vehicle and sent for post-mortem examination," he said.
