It is understood that the disciplinary action is a result of strong protest lodged by Arab countries including the summoning of the Indian Envoy to Qatar, Deepak Mittal by the country’s foreign office.
New Delhi: The BJP has suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal from the primary membership of the party following their alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad and Islam.
The development came a day after incident of stone pelting and communal clashes reported in Kanpur during the visit of Prime Minister.
Soon after the news of their suspension came, social media flooded in support these two leaders. Also, hashtags calling for the boycott of Indian goods in Gulf countries trended on twitter. What can be termed serious that even the Grand Mufti of Oman tweeted from his official account denouncing the derogatory remarks made by Nupur Sharma during the TV debate.
It is understood that the disciplinary action is a result of strong protest lodged by Arab countries including the summoning of the Indian Envoy to Qatar, Deepak Mittal by the country’s foreign office.
Incidentally, vice president M Venkaiah Naidu is on an official visit in Qatar. However, the Congress has claimed the BJP’s action against its leaders is”placatory’ and taken following”threats from external powers”.
In his statement, BJP’s Arun Singh said, “During the thousands of years of history of India every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions. The BJP strongly denounces insult of any religious personalities of any religion.” India’s Constitution gives the right to every citizen to practice any religion of his or her choice and to honour and respect every religion, he said.
“As India celebrates the 75th year of its Independence, we are committed to making India a great country where all are equal and everyone lives with dignity, where all are committed to India’s unity and integrity, where all enjoy the fruits of growth and development,” the BJP leader said.Both Sharma and Jindal said it was never their intention to hurt anyone’s religious feelings.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Nupur Sharma said, “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 was apparently referring to the claims of Hindu groups about the presence of a Shivling at the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.
“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.” Muslim groups have been holding protests demanding action against Sharma. Cases have been filed against her in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune, accusing her of hurting religious sentiments,” she said.