Qatar, Kuwait and Iran protest remarks against Prophet Mohammad
Kuwait's deputy foreign minister for Asia welcomed the announcement about the suspension of the BJP spokesperson whose comments about the Prophet has sparked an uproar in the country and abroad.
At least three nations – Iran, Kuwait and Qatar – expressed their disappointment on Sunday with India over "abusive statements" against Prophet Mohammed made by now-suspended leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Kuwait's deputy foreign minister for Asia handed over a note of protest to the Indian envoy over the issue. He also welcomed the announcement about suspension of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma whose comments about the Prophet made recently on national television has sparked an uproar in the country and abroad, especially in Arab nations like Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
India shares close ties with all these nations. Earlier in the day, Qatar's foreign ministry summoned Indian ambassador Deepak Mittal and handed him an official note, expressing disappointment and total rejection of the BJP leader’s comments against the Prophet. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is currently on an official visit to Qatar.
Also read | ‘Views of fringe elements’: India on Qatar's response to comments on Prophet
Later, Iranian news agency Mehr news agency said the Indian ambassador to Tehran was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "by the Director General of South Asia on Sunday evening to receive the strong protest of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
''The Indian ambassador to Iran expressed regret and called any insult to the Prophet of Islam unacceptable,'' it said.
The BJP suspended Sharma and expelled the party's Delhi media cell head, Naveen Kumar Jindal, over their controversial remarks against the Prophet.
Ambassador conveyed that the tweets do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. These are the views of fringe elements.
In line with our civilisational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, Government of India accords the highest respect to all religions.
Earlier in the day, the BJP distanced itself from the controversy and said that the party “respects all religions”. In a statement signed by the party's national general secretary Arun Singh, the saffron camp said tit is “strictly” against any ideology that “insults or demeans any sect or religion”.
“The BJP does not promote such persons or philosophy…it (the BJP) strongly denounces the insult of any religious personalities of any religion,” the statement added.
