NEW DELHI: Indian officialdom has reacted with surprise - and mild irritation - at US President Barack Obama's latest comments about rising instances of religious intolerance in India, with officials suggesting that it may have something to do with his desire to placate the politically influential evangelical Christian lobby and prevent perceptions of closeness between the two nations from racing ahead of reality.
Top government sources told ET on Friday that Obama's two back-to-back statements on religious intolerance - the first during his speech in Delhi's Siri Fort Auditorium on Jan 27 and the latest during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday - now appears to be part of a well thought out strategy to project an impression that while relations had improved, differences remain on vital issues and recent displays of bonhomie were partly optics.
While the foreign ministry did not officially comment on Obama's comments sources said the Prime Minister's Office viewed them as largely stemming from his political compulsion. Yet, they did not regard the statements as innocent and made without any calculation, especially noting that US leaders often do not raise voice against theocratic regimes and even count them as allies.
"The US President understands that religion is a very sensitive issue in India, especially in the present regime under Narendra Modi," said one top official, adding that the comments were not offthe-cuff remarks but subtle attempts to pressure India into making concessions.
This official said the optics of the Obama visit made it seem path-breaking amid displays of warmth and personal chemistry.
But behind the scenes, during the delegation level talks, there wasn't much warmth even though both sides did manage to make progress in nuclear, defence and clean energy sectors.
"Hard bargains were being driven for defence deals with the US not really happy about India's continued procurements from Russia... There was pressure being built to send our troops to Afghanistan, on the pretext that they will be more effective since they know the region better," the official said, adding that if the US had its way, India would cancel all its ongoing deals regarding nuclear energy with Russia and also buy all its defence equipment only from them. "But that is not possible. India needs Russia, and it also needs China. The US cannot expect to exercise influence over how India deals with countries, which it views as being inimical to its interests," said this person, a top official who requested anonymity in view of the sensitivity around the topic.
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast with the Dalai Lama in attendance, Obama condemned those using religion as a rationale for carrying out violence around the world, and pointedly referred to India where he said people had been targeted for their beliefs. "Michelle and I returned from India — an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity — but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and beliefs — acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation," he said.
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