India's ruling party suspends official over comments about Islam after Gulf outrage

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) has suspended a spokeswomen in response to feedback she made throughout a TV debate concerning the Prophet Mohammed, which drew widespread outrage within the Gulf. 

The BJP mentioned in a press release on its web site that the celebration revered all religions. “The BJP strongly denounces insult of any non secular personalities of any faith.”

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Spokeswoman Nupur Sharma, in a publish on Twitter, mentioned that her feedback concerning the Muslim prophet had been in response to different feedback made a few Hindu god, including that it was by no means her intention to harm anybody’s non secular emotions.

“If my phrases have brought about discomfort or harm non secular emotions of anybody by any means, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my assertion,” she mentioned. 

One other BJP spokesman Naveen Jindal was expelled from the celebration over feedback he made about Islam on social media, the BJP workplace mentioned.

Jindal mentioned on Twitter he had questioned some feedback made in opposition to Hindu gods. “I solely questioned them however that doesn’t imply I’m in opposition to any faith.”

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The BJP assertion additionally mentioned: “The Bharatiya Janata Get together can also be strongly in opposition to 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 international locations, together with Saudia Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, the place massive procuring chains reportedly began removing Indian-made products in response to the insulting remarks. 

The Ministry of International 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 observe by which Kuwait rejected and denounced the statements made by the BJP official.

Qatar’s international ministry assertion additionally mentioned it welcomed the BJP celebration’s determination to droop the official however mentioned Qatar was anticipating a public apology and instant condemnation of those remarks by the Indian authorities.

Pakistan mentioned in a press release it condemns within the “strongest doable phrases” the extremely derogatory remarks. “Pakistan as soon as once more calls on the worldwide group to take instant cognizance of the grievously aggravating scenario of Islamophobia in India,” it mentioned.