BJP draws supporters' ire over suspending leaders for remarks on Prophet
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New Delhi: The remarks made by party spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal against the Prophet Muhammad have received a wide backlash for the BJP, including international communities. In an attempt to control some of the damages caused by the statement, the party suspended both of them, but not before many Arab countries condemning the move and summoning the Indian envoys for an apology.
The party's decision has also invited the ire of its own followers who expressed dissatisfaction on social media over the suspension of Sharma and Jindal. Prime Minister Modi and his party have been condemned by several people for "not having the guts" to stand up for their spokespersons in the face of international criticism and termed the suspension a way of appeasing foreign countries.
"Welcome to Islamic state of India where a spineless @BJP4India can't defend #NupurSharma. If relations with Arab and Muslim countries are so crucial then why we are not able to get anything done about Hindus getting persecuted daily in Pakistan and Bangladesh (sic)," one Twitter user wrote. Others also asked how the BJP will defend the country "when it can't even defend its spokespersons".
Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Sunday bought out statements condemning the BJP for allowing its spokespersons to defame the Prophet. These governments also summoned the Indian envoys in these countries. Reports have also come out during this time that the people from these countries have called to boycott Indian products to protest against the remarks by Sharma and Jindal.
The Qatar government was the first to issue a summons. On Sunday, June 6, the Indian representative was asked give a "public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Indian government". However, the Indian embassy responded by saying that the references did not reflect the views of the Indian government and blamed "fringe elements" for it.
Hours later, the Indian representatives were summoned by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait according to the News Minute.
Nupur Sharma's blasphemous remarks against the Prophet Mohammed were made when she had appeared for a TV news debate on Times Now after a shivling-like structure was discovered in Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque earlier in May. Nupur claimed that Muslims mocked Hindus for calling the figure a 'shivling', which was later found to be a fountain. She added that she could also ridicule things in the Qur'an and made provocative remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.
The party has also suspended businessman and former BJP legislator Naveen Jindal for a tweet questioning the marriage of the Prophet to Aisha on June 1.