The alleged derogatory remarks made by a few BJP leaders on Prophet Muhammad have invited a backlash from the Gulf countries on Sunday with Qatar, Kuwait and Iran summoning the Indian envoys and expressing their strong displeasure over the issue.
The Indian embassies in Qatar and Kuwait later issued a statement saying that the Ambassadors have conveyed that the remarks do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Indian government.
“In line with our civilisational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, Government of India accords the highest respect to all religions,” they said, adding that strong action has been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks.
They also noted that certain people with vested interests against India – Qatar and India - Kuwait relations have been using these derogatory comments to incite people.
Meanwhile, the Qatar Foreign Affairs Ministry said it welcomed the statement issued by the BJP where the party said it had taken strong action against two of its office bearers.
“Noting that State of Qatar is expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Government of India, pointing out that allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment, constitutes a grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalization, which will create a cycle of violence and hate,” it said.
The saffron party has suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal for their remarks as it sought to defuse the row over the issue.
Amid protests by Muslim groups over the remarks, the party also issued a statement aimed at assuaging the concerns of minorities and distancing itself from these members, asserting that it respects all religions and strongly denounces the insult of any religious personality.
While Sharma's comments during a TV debate aimed at the founder of Islam have drawn the ire of Muslim groups, Jindal also posted objectionable tweets, deleted later, and has been accused of often posting inciting comments.
Soon after facing party's action on Sunday, Sharma unconditionally withdrew her comments and said it was never her intention to hurt anyone's religious feelings. She claimed that her comments were a reaction to "continuous insult and disrespect towards our Mahadev"' (Lord Shiva) as she could not tolerate it.
"I have been attending TV debates for the past many days where our Mahadev was being insulted and disrespected continuously. It was mockingly being said that it is not Shivling but a fountain. The Shivling was also being ridiculed by comparing it to roadside signs and poles in Delhi,” she wrote on Twitter.
"If my words have caused discomfort or hurt religious feelings of anyone whatsoever, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my statement. It was never my intention to hurt anyone's religious feelings,” Sharma said.
Jindal said that he had tweeted asking a question to those attacking and insulting Hindu deities and it was not aimed at hurting the religious sentiments of any community.
