Nirmala Sitharaman Defies Western Perception: Muslims in India are Doing Better Than You Think!

In an attempt to counter the unfavourable Western “image” of India, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted that Muslims in India are doing far better than Muslims in Pakistan.

In addition to chairing the second G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors under the Indian presidency, Sitharaman came in Washington to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The finance minister was questioned by PIIE President Adam S. Posen on frequent reports in the Western media about MPs in the opposing party losing their status and Muslim minority in India experiencing violence. India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, according to the finance minister, and the population is just expanding. She inquired as to if there are now more Muslims in India than there were in 1947.

Sitharaman said she will adopt the name of Pakistan in order to highlight the distinction between India and Pakistan, which was created when India was split into two. The population of every minority group in Pakistan has decreased, and even certain Muslim sects have been wiped out, despite Pakistan’s declaration that it is an Islamic nation and its vow to safeguard minorities.

In addition, Sitharaman said that while there is violence against Muhajirs, Shia, and other marginalised groups in India, Muslims of all stripes are running successful businesses and pursuing higher education thanks to government fellowships.

Also, she pushed the World Trade Organization (WTO) to advance. According to Sitharaman, the WTO has to be more progressive, fair, and open to the views of all nations. It should also provide these voices a platform. It ought to pay attention to those voices as well.