cross-posted from: https://lemmy.run/post/27549

During his US trip, Rahul Gandhi denigrated India, and the Indian government and made factually inaccurate claims about India’s history, its democracy, and its leaders.

Mary Millben (left), Rahul Gandhi (right), images via The Telegraph and India Today

On Friday (June 30), American singer Mary Millben slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for bad-mouthing India during his international trips. The official singer of the White House made the remarks during an interview with journalist Rohan Dua of The New Indian.

On being asked about Rahul Gandhi’s recent trip to the US, she said, “Well, I caught glimpses of his speeches and thoughts, and honestly, I don’t personally know Mr. Rahul, so I don’t want to make unkind comments.”

Mary Millben emphasised, “However, it’s difficult for any country to support a leader who constantly speaks negatively about their own nation. A true leader appreciates their heritage and values their country. That’s why Prime Minister Modi is adored in India and respected worldwide.”

White House’s official singer Mary Millben Slams Rahul Gandhi

In listening to some of the speeches by Rahul on his ambitions, I can say that it’s very hard for any country or its citizens to sign up or vote for a leader who doesn’t speak well of his own country. The mark of a… pic.twitter.com/DY4Kn5i6Bb

- Rohan Dua (@rohanduaT02) June 30, 2023

During his 10-day trip to the United States, Rahul Gandhi spoke at the National Press Club, Stanford University and also, to ‘think tanks’, allegedly discussing relations between the two countries.

He also denigrated India, and the Indian government and made factually inaccurate claims about India’s history, its democracy, and its leaders. The Congress leader also met activist Sunita Vishwanath, known for her ties with George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) and Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC).

Mary Millben on Barack Obama’s anti-India remarks

On being asked about the contentious remarks made by Barack Obama during PM Modi’s official State visit to the US, the American singer said, “I felt that it was quite arrogant of the former president to upstage the current President of the United States, who happened to be his vice president in his own party, during such an important week for both the President and the Prime Minister.”

“I found it to be quite arrogant, to be honest,” she said, adding that the world is witnessing an alarming rise in religious persecution.

International Singer Mary Millben comments on former President Obama’s comments against India. "I found it quite arrogant for the former President to upstage the current US President during such an important State Visit for the United States and @PMOIndia @narendramodi. Watch… pic.twitter.com/QOxQQr9KVV

- Mary Millben (@MaryMillben) July 1, 2023

On June 22 this year, the former US President courted controversy by virtue-signalling India about its ‘human rights’ record. Obama, who has a notorious record as a potential war criminal, suggested that the Indian Prime Minister must be told by the Biden administration about protecting the ‘Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India.’

He also hinted at another ‘partition’ if India, under the Modi government, did not mend its ways. The ex-US President said, “If President (Joe Biden) meets with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, the protection of Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning.”

Barack Obama also claimed, “If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, then, part of the conversation would be that if you do not protect the rights of minorities, then there is a strong possibility that India at some point starts pulling apart…That would be contrary to the interests of India.”

The former US President made the contentious remarks during an interview with CNN news host Christiane Amanpour, just hours before PM Modi made his historic address at the joint session of the US Congress.

  • pleasemakesense@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I mean, I would prefer a leader that voiced the problems present in the country, and I wouldn’t trust one that ignored them. Also praise for modi makes me not take her opinion more seriously

    • helenvanvliet@lemmy.runOP
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      1 year ago

      I agree, but there is fine line between voicing the problems, and openly asking other countries to interfere in the domestic policies of a nation and using concerns as a tool.

      • SophismaCognoscente@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        This whole article is propaganda. If you want to see concern trolling, Millben is doing a ton of it by calling Obama’s remarks “arrogant” and “virtue-signaling.”

        The fact is, religious nationalism is bad for any country that calls itself a democracy. Modi and his party should be taken to task both by Indians at home and by India’s fellow democracies.

      • InverseParallax@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        As an NRI, Modi wants to make criticizing him, India or Hinduism a crime, I think we all know where that leads.

  • notsofunnycomment@mander.xyz
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    1 year ago

    That’s why Prime Minister Modi is adored in India and respected worldwide.

    Haha. Try again.

    Modi is a fascist and complicit in the mass kilings in Gujarat. His government actively censored the BBC documentary highlighting this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0dkb144

    All of this is nonsense and should be ignored.

  • Not sure how I feel about this article. It comes off as weirdly defensive about Modi, while trying to paint his critics as misguided or arrogant fools without really addressing what exactly was said. Also, I’m not really sure how much weight the political opinion of a White House singer has. Was that really the best person they could find for this interview?

    • peef ಠ_ಠ@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Oh FFS, OPIndia is a right wing media — almost a BJP’s (Current ruling party) mouthpiece — which also frequently posts fake news and Islamaphobic and xenophobic content. Also, International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) rejected it’s application as a fact checker.

      Also, I’m not really sure how much weight the political opinion of a White House singer has.

      None IMO. It’s just a very shitty website run with shittier people.

      So that means Indian right wing trads and jingoists who plagued Reddit and made literal hate posts are on the fediverse. Fuck.

  • BartsBigBugBag@lemmy.tf
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    1 year ago

    Fuck Modi, and fuck this chick for supporting him. This article feels like pro-Modi propaganda.

  • redcalcium@c.calciumlabs.com
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    1 year ago

    Barack Obama also claimed, “If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, then, part of the conversation would be that if you do not protect the rights of minorities, then there is a strong possibility that India at some point starts pulling apart…That would be contrary to the interests of India.”

    I don’t understand, what’s so bad about Obama’s remark?

  • rahmad@vlemmy.net
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    1 year ago

    There’s bias, and then there’s this. It’s impressive in its transparency of agenda. Stunning, and a bit sad, since presumably even something with the bar so low can be effective with some people.

    • sylver_dragon@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Seriously, this word vomit salad wasn’t just slanted, it was completely vertical. On top of that, it seemed to jump around from one “point” to the next without fully making any point. What type of moron read this and thinks, “this is a really good argument and I should share this on social media”?