India’s ruling party suspends official over comments about Islam
MUMBAI (Reuters) -India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) mentioned on Sunday it had suspended BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma in response to feedback she made throughout a TV debate concerning the Prophet Mohammed.
The BJP mentioned in a press release on its web site that the social gathering revered all religions. “The BJP strongly denounces insult of any non secular personalities of any faith.”
Sharma mentioned on Twitter she had mentioned some issues in response to feedback made a few Hindu god but it surely was by no means an intention to harm anybody’s non secular emotions.
“If my phrases have brought about discomfort or harm non secular emotions of anybody in any respect, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my assertion,” she mentioned.
One other BJP spokesman Naveen Jindal was expelled from the social gathering over feedback he made about Islam on social media, the BJP workplace mentioned.
Jindal mentioned on Twitter he had questioned some feedback made towards Hindu gods. “I solely questioned them however that doesn’t imply I’m towards any faith.”
The BJP assertion additionally mentioned: “The Bharatiya Janata Occasion can also be strongly towards any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or faith. The BJP doesn’t promote such folks or philosophy.”
Sharma’s feedback prompted complaints from a number of Muslim nations, together with Qatar and Kuwait.
Pakistan mentioned in a press release it condemns within the “strongest potential phrases” the extremely derogatory remarks. “Pakistan as soon as once more calls on the worldwide neighborhood to take speedy cognizance of the grievously aggravating scenario of Islamophobia in India,” it mentioned.
The Ministry of Overseas Affairs of Qatar mentioned in a press release it had summoned the Indian ambassador over the feedback.
The State of Kuwait additionally summoned the Indian ambassador and mentioned it had handed the ambassador a protest notice by which Kuwait rejected and denounced the statements made by the BJP official.
Qatar’s international ministry assertion additionally mentioned it welcomed the (BJP) social gathering’s determination to droop the official however mentioned Qatar was anticipating a public apology and speedy condemnation of those remarks by the Indian authorities.
(Reporting by Swati Bhat and Nigam Prusty; Modifying by Jane Merriman and David Holmes)
