New Delhi ( CNN ) In the final hours of a visit meant to demonstrate the deep societal ties between the U.S. and India , President Barack Obama briefly broke from his gushing praise for the new Prime Minister to make a soft but undisguised push toward gender equality and religious freedom . Speaking to an audience of students and activists in New Delhi on Tuesday , Obama declared the U.S. was India 's best-suited partner as it makes rapid economic advances and appears poised to overtake China to become the world 's most populous nation . But he did n't veil his take on recent attacks against women here , urging the country away from violence against women and religious minorities . Recent rapes in India have put a harsh focus on India 's gender politics . `` Every girl 's life matters , '' Obama said in New Delhi . `` Every daughter deserves the same chance as our sons . And every woman should be able to go about her day -- to walk the street or ride the bus -- and be safe and be treated with the respect and dignity that she deserves . '' Sexual assaults became a high-profile problem in India after a young woman was gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 . The victim later died . Subsequent incidents of sexual violence -- including at the hands of an Uber driver -- placed global scrutiny on India 's laws and culture . Obama traveled to India in the hopes of capitalizing on the deep personal warmth he 's quickly developed with new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi , whose effervescent welcome for the American President was covered enthusiastically and exhaustively by Indian media . That 's a distant cry from Modi 's arrival in the United States in September , which was marred by awkward questions over his visa status . Modi , a member of the right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party , had previously been denied entry to the U.S. for an alleged role in a massacre of Muslims . Obama said Tuesday that it was the responsibility of every citizen to uphold the freedom of religion that 's enshrined in India 's constitution . `` Every person has the right to practice their faith how they choose , or to practice no faith at all , and to do so free from persecution and fear , '' Obama said . Obama 's parting speech Tuesday was one of his few moments apart from Modi during his stay in India . The pair hugged upon Obama 's arrival , sipped tea and meandered through a formal garden , and sat for hours behind rain-splattered bulletproof glass reviewing the annual Republic Day parade . White House officials say that the level of personal interaction between the leaders exceeded even their already high expectations , and that the relationship greased the way for progress on a civilian nuclear deal to allow U.S. firms to construct power plants in India . Both sides also moved toward more defense cooperation and trade pacts . But despite their talk of cooperation , obvious differences persist between the U.S. and India that could preclude cooperation on areas like combating climate change . During his remarks Tuesday , Obama said India must commit to reducing emissions that cause climate change , even as the manufacturing and power plants that produce that pollution drive India to new economic heights . `` Here 's the truth : Even if countries like the United States curb our emissions , if growing countries like India -- with soaring energy needs -- do n't also embrace cleaner fuels , then we do n't stand a chance against climate change , '' Obama said .
`` Every girl 's life matters , '' Obama says in New Delhi . The president said the United States is committed to helping India develop its economy and improve living standards for all of its people. Sexual assaults became a high-profile problem in India after a 2012 rape on a New Delhi bus .