Qatar summons India envoy over 'insulting' Prophet Muhammad remarks
Qatar summons India envoy over 'insulting' Prophet Muhammad remarks
Qatar has condemned statements made by a senior leader of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party who insulted the Prophet Muhammad.
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The BJP's Nupur Sharma has been suspended by the party for insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate [Getty]
Qatar has summoned India’s ambassador over remarks made by senior members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that insulted the Prophet Muhammad.
Qatar’s foreign ministry handed Indian ambassador Deepak Mittal an official note expressing their disappointment and condemned the remarks by the officials.
India’s ambassador said the sentiments do not reflect the views of the government.
Qatar's foreign ministry summoned Indian envoy Deepak Mittal & handed him official note expressing disappointment, total rejection & condemnation of controversial remarks made by official in India’s ruling party against Prophet Mohammed.
— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) June 5, 2022
“In line with our civilisational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, the government of India accords the highest respect to all religions. Strong action has already been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks,” said India’s embassy to Qatar in a statement.
The BJP said in response to the statements that it respects all religions and faiths, even as its policies and governments officials continue to attack Muslims and their culture.
One of those who made the comments was Nupur Sharma, an official spokesperson for the BJP who has now been suspended from the party for her controversial remarks in which she insulted the Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate. She has not apologised for them, instead saying her words were in response to those claiming that an alleged Hindu relic at Gyanvapi Mosque in north India is a fountain.
— Nupur Sharma (@NupurSharmaBJP) June 5, 2022
The centuries-old Gyanvapi mosque has been at the centre of a debate in India, where Hindu nationalists, including members of the BJP, have claimed that a sacred Hindu relic was found on the premises and that it should be converted into a temple.
Meanwhile, tweets from the head of the BJP’s media team in Delhi, Naveen Kumar Jindal, triggered outrage in the region on Sunday.
He was expelled from the party for insulting the Prophet and stoking communal hatred online.
The development comes as India’s Vice President met Qatar’s Prime Minister and interior minister to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
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