Obama welcomes Modi's assurance of equal respect for all religions

Obama issues statement in response to online petition urging him to raise issue of Sikh genocide

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama appreciated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's condemnation of religious-based acts of violence, and welcomed the Indian premier's assurance that his government will give equal respect to all religions, IBN reported.

According to the White House website, Obama issued a statement welcoming Modi's assurances given to the minority communities in response to an online petition.

Launched by the New York-based Sikh for Justice, the online petition had urged Obama before his India trip to raise the issue of Sikh genocide" and Sikhs' Right to Self-determination during his talks with Modi. The petition received more than 125,000 signatures. The White House responds to petition in less than a month after it was launched.

Thanking those who signed the petition, the statement said that during his recent trip to India, the US president discussed the importance of religious freedom and tolerance in India on January 27 during his speech at Siri Fort in New Delhi.

"President Obama underscored that India's success depended on the nation not being 'splintered along the lines of religious faith'," it said.

"As the president said in his January 27 speech, 'In both our countries, in India and in America, our diversity is our strength'. We are committed to working with India to reaffirm this principle not just within our own countries but around the world," the White House said.