WSJ Journalist, Who Questioned PM Modi On 'Muslim Rights' And Amplified Negative Reactions To His Response, Claims 'Harassment'; White House Comes Out In Support

During his visit to the US earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took questions from Indian and American journalists following his meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House.

The Wall Street Journal's Sabrina Siddiqui, who asked the Prime Minister about "improving the rights of Muslims" in India, has now claimed harassment, and the White House has come out in support of her.

"Mr. Prime Minister, India has long prided itself as the world's largest democracy, but there are many human rights groups who say that your government has discriminated against religious minorities and sought to silence its critics... What steps are you and your government willing to take to improve the rights of Muslims and other religious minorities in your country and uphold free speech?" Siddiqui had asked Modi at a presser.

"We are a democracy... India and America both have democracy in our DNA. Democracy is in our spirit; it runs in our veins. We live it, and it's written in our constitution. There is no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed, or religion. That is why India believes in 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas' and walks ahead with it," the Prime Minister had said in response to Siddiqui's question.

"Our government has proven that democracy can deliver, and when I say deliver, this is regardless of caste, creed, religion, and gender. There is absolutely no space for discrimination," Modi said, adding, "In India, the benefits that are provided by the government are accessible to all."

The question led to an uproar on social media, with supporters and critics praising Prime Minister Modi's composed response.

Siddiqui, who was criticized by netizens in both India and the US for framing the question in terms of "improving the rights of Muslims," retweeted comments from fellow journalists and far-left activists criticizing Prime Minister Modi's response.

While Siddiqui continues to retweet comments labeling her critics as "Hindutva trolls," the White House has come out in support of the journalist and condemned the alleged harassment.

"It’s completely unacceptable and antithetical to the very principles of democracy that ... were on display last week during the state visit," said US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

The comments have received pushback online from those criticizing Siddiqui, with some arguing that journalists should be open to scrutiny.