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Action for comments on Prophet well-considered decision: BJP
“The party had taken cognisance of the comments and after following the due process, a decision was taken to relieve the two spokespersons of their duties," a senior functionary said.
New Delhi: A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suspended one spokesperson, Nupur Sharma, and expelled another, Naveen Jindal, for making derogatory comments against Prophet Mohammad and his wife, functionaries said the action was a “well-considered decision”, and not precipitated by the uproar in West Asian countries.
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“The party had taken cognisance of the comments and after following the due process, a decision was taken to relieve the two spokespersons of their duties. Subsequently, a statement was also issued that reiterated the party’s stand that we do not condone insults to any religion,” a senior functionary said, seeking anonymity.
The now-suspended spokesperson made the comments targeting the Prophet during a television debate on May 26. HT learns that envoys of several West Asian countries started flagging these as potentially problematic soon after. However, it was only over the weekend, when Twitter exploded with outrage in many West Asian countries that the government was pushed to act.
The delay in announcing the action was on account of senior leaders being preoccupied with the outreach programmes that were planned to mark the eight years of the National Democratic Alliance government in power at the Centre, the functionary claimed.
A second leader added that the public outrage, posts on social media, and countries conveying their displeasure to Indian diplomats through backchannels convinced the party to take immediate action, said a second leader who asked not to be named.
“There was consensus among the top leadership about the decision to take action. It was left to the disciplinary committee to examine the statements and convey the final decision,” the second functionary said.
Sharma made the derogatory comments on a live television show on May 26 and a first information report against her was filed on May 28 in Mumbai. Jindal tweeted objectionable comments on June 1.
On Sunday, a clutch of countries including Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia conveyed their consternation over the remarks by Sharma and Jindal, which snowballed into a diplomatic kerfuffle.
The action has also focused attention on the narrative building and public posturing by party leaders on contentious issues.
“Functionaries are told to stick to the party line and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda. Anyone deviating from the agenda will have to face the consequences,” said a third party leader.
The party has reiterated its instruction to the spokespersons and leaders who appear on television shows to be “mindful” of their public statements so that the party and the country are not put in a spot, he added. “It is for the seniors in the party to set the tone.”
Periodic training workshops by senior BJP leaders are conducted for all spokespersons to familiarise them with the party’s line and ensure there is no disparity in the response to issues.
“There is a need for restating over and over again that party spokespersons need to be discreet and careful on certain issues, especially if they are sensitive topics like religion. They should be able to use their judgment and decide where to step back and not comment, as all issues do not merit a response,” the second functionary said.
While most leaders, including some of the spokespeople who are familiar faces on television, on Monday showed deference to the action taken, the use of the term “fringe” for party spokespersons by foreign ministry officials has not gone down well with a section of BJP leaders.
Spokespersons of the Indian Embassy in Qatar and Kuwait had conveyed that the statements do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Indian government, and are the views of fringe elements.
There is also a section of party leaders who expressed unease about the action against Sharma, who has been suspended, citing the threats she has received for her views.
“We are the party’s foot soldiers and will follow the instructions, but there is a sense of unease because Sharma was responding to comments that were derogatory to Hindu gods,” said a spokesperson. “Besides, what about the threats she has received and the fact that she is vulnerable to attacks?”
