Prophet Remarks: Left, Congress, AAP Call out BJP for ‘Defaming’ India Internationally

New Delhi: The Left parties on Monday charged that the BJP was "forced to act" and suspend its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammed due to pressure from other countries.

Earlier, the Congress, too, hit out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the controversial remarks made by its functionaries against Prophet Mohammed, and accused it of defaming India at the international level and said it was unacceptable that the nation has to apologise for its mistakes.

The Congress also demanded the arrest of the two BJP functionaries after international outrage over their offensive comments against the Prophet. 

On Sunday, BJP suspended Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal as the row over their remarks against the Prophet escalated with protests from some Muslim countries.

With sharp reaction coming from countries like Kuwait, Qatar and Iran, the BJP had issued a statement asserting that it respects all religions and strongly denounces insult of any religious personality.

Under attack, Sharma had said, "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."

"Nupur Sharma publicly thanked party leaders Amit Shah, PMO and others for support. Now under pressure from other countries they are forced to act and suspend her. These are patrons of hate speech. Condemn Isolate Defeat them Save India," said CPI(M) in a tweet.

Sharma's comments, made in a TV debate nearly 10 days back, and Jindal's now-deleted tweets sparked a Twitter trend calling for a boycott of Indian products in some countries.

Referring to the remarks of the Indian Ambassador in Qatar that the controversial tweets do not, in any manner, reflect views of the government of India and that "These are the views of fringe elements," CPI General Secretary D Raja asked is the government declaring RSS a fringe organisation.

"The so-called ‘fringe elements’ were the official spokespersons of the ruling party in India. What they said is not different from the RSS narrative of demonising minorities, which is going on since 1925," Raja said in a tweet.

"Is the government declaring RSS a fringe organisation? BJP, RSS making people fight over religion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is with the capitalists instead of being with the farmers, workers and labourers," Raja said. PTI ASG

Cong demands arrest of BJP functionaries for remarks

The Congress also demanded the arrest of the two BJP functionaries after international outrage over their offensive comments against the Prophet. 

 The BJP on Sunday suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled the party's Delhi unit media head Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks following widespread anger in several Gulf countries.

The Congress charged that the BJP's anti-social elements are thrusting the nation into the fire of hatred and the country is being defamed internationally.

"Such anti-social elements of the BJP be arrested immediately," the Congress demanded.

The Congress also said the country will not apologise for the mistakes of the BJP, but the ruling party president should do so.

"Instead of doing a drama of action against anti-social elements in the party who have defamed India at the international level, it should immediately arrest them," the Congress said.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said it was unacceptable that the nation has to apologise for the remarks made by BJP leaders, whom the ruling party described as "fringe elements".

"The BJP commits the mistake and the country has to face the repercussions. The prime minister is reminded by Qatar and Kuwait about his 'Raj Dharma'. Nothing can be more shameful than this," he said.

Khera said India should not apologise as it is not the country's mistake but of the BJP which should apologise.

Another Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Our dapper External Affairs minister got his spokesman to dismiss a US Government report on religious minorities in India as 'vote-bank politics in international relations'. US allies in Gulf are giving a reply."

The Congress on its official Twitter handle said, "The BJP has gone so far in its deceitfulness, arrogance, and pride, that it has become blind in its own darkness. The consequences of the BJP's actions are its own to pay, not the nation's."

India being called out on a global platform for something as shameful as this gives the country a bad name, the Opposition party maintained.

"Is this where we want our country to be placed? Will we let the BJP do this to our country," the Congress asked in a tweet, using the hashtag "#BJP_Defames_India".

Even small countries challenging India under BJP:  Sisodia

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday alleged the BJP has led the country to such a situation that even "small countries are now challenging the great nation of India".

He claimed that every Indian is pained by it and "the sorrow is endless".

Sisodia's remarks came after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) slammed India for comments by two BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad and even urged the UN to take necessary measures to ensure that the rights of Muslims are protected.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran and Kuwait expressed their condemnation of the controversial remarks against the Prophet and called for "respect for beliefs and religions."

Pakistan summoned the Indian chargé d'affaires to convey its categorical rejection and condemnation of the controversial remarks by the two BJP leaders.

Grabbing the opportunity to take a potshot at the BJP, Sisodia, in a tweet in Hindi, said, "Even small countries are challenging the great nation of India.

"What has (PM Narendra) Modi Ji and the BJP done to the country. Every Indian is pained by it, the sorrow is endless ('Itne chhote chhote deshon ko Bharat jaise mahan desh ko aankhwn dikhani ki himmat ho gayi? Modi Ji aur BJP ne desh ka kya haal kar diya. Aaj har bharatbasi behad pirit hai, dukh ki seema nahin hai')."