The visiting US president made this gentle nudge at the only meeting where he was not accompanied by the Prime Minister or any other ministers or government officials when he interacted with about 1500 people from various walks of life including youth. Eyebrows are raised at this reference to religion amidst all the bonhomie with some wondering if it was a snub to the fringe elements in the BJP, and the conversion controversy going on at present. New York Times calling it a ‘tough love message to his host “points out “Mr. Obama’s speech was aimed partly at his newfound friend, Prime Minister Modi, who has been criticized for not doing more to protect political dissent and to guard against sectarian discrimination and conflict. While the two shared a warm visit, Mr. Obama in effect was saying that their developing partnership did not mean Mr. Modi would get a free pass.”

Was Obama’s nudge an off the cuff remark or did the US President make a well -considered and calculated observation when he said what he said? Any one who understands the American way of doing things would vouch for the fact that president’s visits are always planned carefully and thoughtfully months in advance and generally not a word is meant to be out of place. Therefore is it quite safe to assume that Obama had chosen his farewell speech to make one or two points, which may not be music to the ears of the ruling party at the fag end of his visit?

Secondly and more importantly Obama like many other articulate and intelligent world leaders was also perhaps addressing his own constituency in the United States. After all, this is what most leaders do and Obama too did not miss this opportunity of sending a clear message back home.

One must understand the background as Obama's comments come at a time when the Modi government is facing criticism from for not doing enough to protect religious minorities. Not very long ago US had denied a visa to Modi for alleged human rights violation coming under pressure from the human rights groups. There is also a section in the US Congress, which support these human rights groups.

Thirdly, it is also a message to the minorities, particularly the Christians in India and America. One has to remember that when the Christian missionary Stanes was burnt alive in Odisha some years ago; the US authorities expressed concern to the then Vajpayee government. In recent times, images of a fire at the Roman Catholic saint Sebastian’s Church in New Delhi or accounts from Asroi in Uttar Pradesh of a torn cross on a church wall had been played up by the media in America's south, which is deeply Christian. The mass conversions controversy in India also has not gone unnoticed among government officials in Washington, D.C and there were reports that the Christian groups expected Obama to voice his concern during the visit. No one in the Obama government has publicly addressed the attacks on the minorities so far. When the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Gujarat last month for an investor summit, there were hopes — among Christian groups that he might make a statement but that didn’t materialize. U.S. officials were also concerned before the visit that religious issues should not distract the big-picture goals of strengthening economic and defense ties and consummating the civil-nuclear deal and reaching an agreement on climate and energy.

In this context, Obama’s reference to his own religion is quite significant. The President observed at the town hall meeting that, 'In our lives, Michelle Obama and I have been strengthened by our Christian faith. Still, as you may know, my faith has at times been questioned — by people who don't know me — or they've said that I adhere to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad thing.'

Making a political overtones about the remarks, the Congress circles claim that during the meeting with the President the Congress President Sonia Gandhi had also made mention of the growing religious divide after the BJP has come to power. The BJP had played down the President’s observations and slammed the Congress and other opposition parties for reading too much into the remarks. One has to wait and see how the Prime Minister decipher Obama’s parting shot 'In both our countries, in all countries, upholding this fundamental freedom is the responsibility of government, but it's also the responsibility of every person. ' (IPA Service)