Prophet remark row: Amid opposition attacks, more nations join list: 10 points

Prophet remark controversy: Two BJP leaders - Naveen Jindal and Nupur Sharma - are at the centre of the controversy.

The list of nations objecting to remarks against Prophet Mohammed and his wife - by former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal - grew longer on Monday as India assuaged diplomatic concerns, stressing that the country respects all religions equally. Hours after Iran, Qatar and Kuwait sent official notes on Sunday and held talks with top officials, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had also put out statements. On Monday, Oman, Libya, Maldives, Indonesia, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan and Afghanistan also joined the list. The BJP has suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal, and both the leaders apolgised after the action. While the government has underscored the comments was linked to “fringe elements”, the opposition has stepped up attacks over the controversy.

Prophet remark controversy: Nupur Sharma was suspended by the BJP on Sunday.  (Facebook )

Here are ten points on the controversy about the remarks on Prophet Mohammed:

1. “The United Arab Emirates has condemned statements by the spokesperson for the Indian Bharatiya Janata Party, expressing its denunciation and rejection of insults of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him,” an official note read, underscoring the need “to respect religious symbols and not violate them, as well as confront hate speech and violence”.

2. In Oman, a meeting was held between Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs, and Indian Ambassador Amit Narang as he pointed out that such comments do not bode well for the peaceful coexistence. But he also welcomed the BJP’s move to take action against the leaders.

4. While Maldives said it was “deeply concerned by the derogatory remarks made by some officials of BJP”, Jordan also condemned the comments “in strongest terms”. Bahrain also underlined "the need to denounce any reprehensible insults against the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, as a provocation to Muslims’ feelings and incitement to religious hatred." Millions of expatriates live in these countries for employment. India also has deep trade ties with all these countries.

5. Meanwhile, India hit back at Pakistan and Islamic nations body - the Organisation of Islamic Council - over their statements on Monday.

6. “The absurdity of a serial violator of minority rights commenting on the treatment of minorities in another nation is not lost on anyone. The world has been witness to the systemic persecution of minorities” in the country, foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement after tweets by the Pakistan prime minister.

7. To the Islamic nations’ body, the ministry of external affairs said that it was “regrettable that the OIC Secretariat has yet again chosen to make motivated, misleading and mischievous comments. This only exposes its divisive agenda being pursued at the behest of vested interests.”

8. In another development, Nupur Sharma has been summoned by the Mumbai Police over a case filed against her for the objectionable comments, city police commissioner Sanjay Pandey said on Monday. She had apologised for the remarks after the BJP took action against her. “The decision to send a notice to her in the case was taken days before she tendered an apology,” an officer said.

9. The opposition has been lashing out at the government over the controversy. After Telangana minister KT Rama Rao said “‘the BJP should apologise, and not India”, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi also criticised the government. “Divided internally, India becomes weak externally. BJP’s shameful bigotry has not only isolated us, but also damaged India’s standing globally,” he tweeted.

10. “India has lost face. The country’s foreign policy was destroyed. The fringe has become mainstream. I demand (Sharma’s) arrest, not just suspension,” said AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, adding that Sharma should have been arrested not just suspended.