BJP suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her insulting remarks on Prophet Muhammad in a controversial TV debate on Times Now. Sharma has been the party’s official spokesperson and participated in a number of TV debates, representing her party’s views.
#Katyayan#ArrestNaveenJindal#ArrestNupurSharma#ArrestNupurSharmaBJP#arrestnurpursharma#arrestnavikakumar#Blasphemy@StateIRF#rssterrorism#HindutvaTerrorists
BJP distances itself from comments made by Nupur Sharma, says party respects all religions.https://t.co/ZZAuGFmMA7— KATYAYAN VAJPAYEE (@KVajpayaee) June 5, 2022
The development comes after violence broke out in Kanpur over her comments and anger mounted on social media, especially in Gulf nations. Hashtags called for the boycott of Indian products are trending in these nations. Iran, Qatar, and Kuwait summoned the Indian envoys to register their protest.
The Grand Mufti of Oman Sheikh Ahmad bin Hamad Al-Khalil has announced the boycott of Indian products after spokespersons of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made blasphemous remarks.#إلا_رسول_الله_يا_مودي#BoycottIndianProducts#Stopinsulting_ProphetMuhammad pic.twitter.com/Hbbebe2U8i
— Tweety🪶 (@Tw__ee__ty) June 6, 2022
This comes at a time when Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu is on a four-day visit to Qatar and even met its Prime Minister. Outraged by the comments made against Prophet Mohammed, the Qatar Foreign Ministry expressed its grievances over the comments of BJP’s media head, Naveen Jindal, as well. Other Gulf nations like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman have also joined in the protest.
After #Iran and #Kuwait, #SaudiArabia slams remarks made by #NupurSharma against #ProphetMuhammad https://t.co/SQ0wIrF8Ud
— DNA (@dna) June 6, 2022
The West Asian countries have shared values of Muslim brotherhood and Arab unity. They are home to millions of Indian expatriates and India also has deep trade ties with the nations. “Strong action has already been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks,” Indian Embassy spokesperson in Qatar said. “In line with our civilizational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity,” he added.
It was our fault for not speaking up while you were persecuting our Muslim brothers.
Now that you've gone so far as to offend our prophet, the very least we can do is #BoycottIndianProducts pic.twitter.com/kPOeq6dMZk— إبن الأحمر (@ahmarena) June 5, 2022
The BJP also distanced itself from the controversy and released a statement “strongly denouncing” insults of any religious personalities irrespective of faith and underscored every citizen’s constitutional right to practice any religion of their choice.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions. …The BJP is also strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion,” said Arun Singh, the party’s national general secretary.
BJP today:#NupurSharma #nupursharmabjp #NupurSharmaSuspended pic.twitter.com/9bcviEVuiJ
— Norbert Elekes (@N0rbertElekes) June 5, 2022
After Nupur Sharma was suspended from the saffron party today, she ‘unconditionally’ withdrew her remarks and said that her statements were purely defensive as ‘Mahadev’ was insulted. “It was mockingly being said that it was not ‘Shivling’ but a fountain. The (Gyanvapi) Shivling was also ridiculed by comparing it to roadside signs and poles in Delhi,” she said.
Sharma reportedly made derogatory remarks on May 26. Two more first information reports were filed on Tuesday, one at Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police Station and the other at Bhiwandi City Police Station in Mumbai allegedly for hurting religious sentiments.
The Congress hit out at the BJP over the remarks, saying the party has pushed the country into a “dark era of religious polarisation”. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the BJP and its shenanigans have time and again insulted India’s centuries-old civilizational ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ by constantly pitting one community and religion against another to polarise, divide, and spread hatred.
References: The Hindu, Times Now, The Times of India, Hindustan Times
Featured Image Source: IndiaTV Hindi
