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‘Nupur Sharma, Naveen Jindal not original creators of Islamophobia’: Chidambaram
The BJP has suspended its national spokesperson 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.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday joined the battery of Opposition leaders to criticise the Centre over the recent controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed by BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, who have been suspended and expelled respectively by the party.
On Sunday, the BJP suspended its national spokesperson 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.
"Mrs Nupur Sharma and Mr Naveen Kumar were not the original creators of the Islamophobia. Remember, they were trying to more loyal than the king. Domestic criticism did not impel the BJP to act against the two spokespersons. It was only the international backlash that pushed the BJP to take action," Chidambaran tweeted.
Left parties also charged that the BJP was "forced to act" and suspend Sharma. With sharp reactions coming from countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran, the BJP had issued a statement asserting that it respects all religions and strongly denounces insult of any religious personality.
"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 CPIM 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 the 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 the 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.
Delhi deputy chief Minister Manish Sisodia 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".
Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao lashed out at the Centre after criticism from Gulf countries.
KTR said, "If the BJP truly respects all religions equally, should you also not suspend Telangana BJP chief who made an open public statement wanting to dig up all the mosques & impose a ban on Urdu? Why this selective treatment @JPNaddaJi? Any clarification?"
In another Tweet, he questioned why India as a country should apologise for the "hate speeches of BJP bigots".
(With inputs from agencies)
