Obama arrives in Saudi Arabia, promotes tolerance in India
The president is leading a high-level U.S. delegation to the kingdom to pay respects following the death of King Abdullah last week.
"Sometimes we need to balance our need to speak to them about human rights issues with immediate concerns we have in terms of counterterrorism or dealing with regional stability," Obama said in a CNN interview that aired in advance of his arrival in Riyadh.
During his four-hour stop in Saudi Arabia, Obama was to hold his first formal meeting with new King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, and then attend a dinner with other Saudi officials at the Erga Palace.
In a final speech Tuesday before leaving India following a landmark three-day visit, Obama told Indians that racial, religious and gender equality were key to the future success of their country. "India will succeed as long as it's not splintered along religious lines," he said.
His remarks in the Indian capital of New Delhi come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been accused of being silent in the face of pressure against minorities, the resurgence of Hindu nationalism and attacks on women. Hindus make up about 80% of the population, with Muslims making up about 12%.
However, Indian minorities such as Muslims and Christians remain worried over his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party. In December, right-wing Hindu groups allied with the BJP conducted a series of ceremonies across the country to convert Christians and Muslims to Hinduism.Speaking in an auditorium to an audience of about 1,500 Tuesday, Obama said that while he has had extraordinary opportunities, "there were moments in my life where I've been treated differently because of the color of my skin." As he touted the importance of religious tolerance, he noted the persistent false rumors that he is a Muslim, not a Christian.
"There have been times where 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," Obama said.
"Every person has the right to practice their religion and beliefs and not practice it if they choose so without any persecution," he said. "No society is immune from the darkest impulses of men and too often, religion has been used to tap into those instead of the light of God. The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts."
Obama gently nudged India to fulfill its constitution's pledge to uphold the "dignity of the individual."
Obama also referred to a notorious gang-rape on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 that sparked protests across India and led to stiffer penalties and stricter laws against rape. "Every woman should be able to go about her day, to walk the street or ride the bus, and be safe and be treated with the respect and dignity that she deserves," he said.
Obama's second visit to India — a first for a sitting U.S. president — was full of pageantry and substance. He was the first U.S. leader to be designated Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations Monday, marking the anniversary of the country's constitution.
Modi and Obama hammered out agreements on nuclear and green energy, and spoke jointly to business leaders from both countries at a CEO roundtable Monday. Obama pledged $4 billion in investments and loans to focus on the "untapped potential" of India.
"The CEO forum was a major highlight of the president's visit," said GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP's national spokesperson. "Both leaders realize that even though the United States is India's largest trading partner, the size of the trade in comparative terms is minimal – so there is a very strong desire to substantially expand trade in the coming months and years.
"The prime minister assured American business leaders that his office will personally help ease large investments into India, clear any road blocks that may be there. Already things are changing, and I think business leaders in both countries now have the ear of their leaders and strong access which can only be good for the economy."
Analysts said the economic momentum has now been sparked.
"Overall, it has been a very successful visit, particularly the CEO forum from an economic perspective," said N. R. Bhanumurthy a professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. "Both leaders have articulated an intent to substantially increase the size of trade between our two countries over a period of time. Some contentious issues remain and economists in India will be watching very keenly what the U.S. does at the WTO (World Trade Organization) meetings next week to signal a more concrete desire to push for economic ties. But overall a very positive mood and investors, above all, have noticed that."
Cutting out a trip to the Taj Mahal in order to leave early for Saudi Arabia, the Obamas met with Nobel Peace Prize winner and anti-child labor activist Kailash Satyarthi and his wife, along with three children — a 12-year-old rescued from slavery at a button factory, an 8-year-old who lost a finger working on a farm, and a 12-year-old girl who campaigns for clean drinking water in school and against child marriage.
Overall the visit was a success, officials said.
"Relations between our two countries were at rock bottom only a year ago, so the turnaround is a huge achievement for Prime Minister Modi," said Rao. "I know that Prime Minister Modi has invested very heavily in this relationship and above all he wants to bring in economic stability in the country, to repeat the Gujarat model of development at the national level — tying up with America is a huge step forward in that direction."
Some New Delhi residents expressed relief that the visit was over. "For people like me, such a high profile visit causes too many problems - Delhi is full of security check posts and I get stopped by police 10 times a day," said Kirit Lamba, 36, a taxi driver in New Delhi. "It's too much hassle."