'How Muslim population is growing in India?': Nirmala Sitharaman questions 'western perceptions'

Sitharaman raised some questions on the perceptions that the Muslim lives were made difficult with the help of the State in a conversation with Peterson Institute president Adam Posen.

The top minister of the Modi government said, "India has the second largest Muslim population in the world and the population is only growing in numbers.

"If there is a perception or if there is in reality that their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, which is implied in most of these write-ups, I will ask, will this happen in India in the sense would Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?"

"As opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same time…Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in its number or if I may use the word, which is harsher, decimated in Pakistan

"Violence prevails against Mohajirs, Shia, and every other group you can name which is not accepted by the mainstream Sunnis probably," she added.

Further Sitharaman emphasised that every strand of the Muslim population is protected in India.

"Whereas in India, every strand of Muslim doing their business, their children getting educated, fellowships are being given by the government," she said.

Image Credit: Twitter/Narendra Modi

The minister also slammed the "western perceptions" that the Indian government is responsible for allegedly making the lives of Muslims difficult citing each state is governed by its own elected government which controls the law and order.

Sitharaman said, "Each province has its elected government. They take care of their law and order in those states. Across the board in India, if violence is happening to make Muslims get affected, in itself is a fallacy as a statement. It cannot be so; each province and police are different."

"So that itself tells you how these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India," she added.