US President Barack Obama who visited India in January for the Republic Day celebrations cited India's religious freedom in a 25-minute speech at The National Prayer Breakfast.
Obama in his address said that while faith in the supreme power brings out the good in mankind, it can also be used as a weapon for wrong doings.
The US President said that India since years has seen religious issues and differences among its people and such "acts of intolerance would have shocked Gandhiji." He added that there in a sinful inclination within everyone that can alter the faith one has.
"From a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it," Obama noted.
The US President's last speech in New Delhi on religious tolerance was misinterpreted by a few individuals as some kind of a separation agenda, explained a senior adviser of Obama, according to IBN Live. Phil Reiner, senior director for South Asian Affairs said that the US President only meant to hint at inclusivity of all religions in his address.
The National Prayer Breakfast was attended by several religious leaders of the world including the Dalai Lama. Obama referred to Dalai Lama as a good friend and a strong example of a practitioner of compassion.
However, the two did not personally meet each other. The religious leader was seated with Obama's senior adviser Valerie Jarrett in the front row.
