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Roundup: President Obama makes pitch for religious freedom as he wraps up 3-day India tour

Xinhua, January 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday made a strong pitch for religious freedom and tolerance in India as he wrapped up his three-day tour.

"India will succeed as long as it's not splintered along religious lines. Your Article 25 (of the Indian Constitution) says that all people are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion," President Obama said, while addressing a gathering of 2,000 young people at the town hall in the national capital.

He also stressed the need for both the government and every citizen to uphold religious freedom, considered to be one of the controversial topics in India.

"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," he said.

President Obama added: "India would succeed as long as all Indians go to the movies and applaud an actor like Shah Rukh Khan (a Muslim Bollywood actor) or an athlete like Milkha Singh ( belonging to the minority Sikh community)."

President Obama's remarks on religious tolerance came at a time when the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has been accused by rival political parties, including main opposition Congress party, of not curbing pro-Hindu activists, allegedly involved in religious conversions.

President Obama, the first U.S. president to be the chief guest at India's Republic Day parade Monday, in his address at the town hall, also described the relationship between India and the United States as potentially "one of the defining partnerships of the century."

"India and the United States are not just natural partners, I believe that America can be India's best partner. Of course, only Indians can decide India's role in the world. But I'm here as I am absolutely convinced that both our peoples will have more jobs and opportunity, our nations will be more secure, and the world will be a safer and more just place when our two democracies stand together," he said.

After the speech, both President Obama and his wife Michelle drove straight to the airport and boarded Air Force One to go to Saudi Arabia. Endi