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Telangana's KTR on Prophet remark controversy: ‘BJP should apologise, not India’
Prophet comment row: The BJP was criticised by the Telangana minister over the remarks.
Telangana minister KT Rama Rao on Monday lambasted the BJP government at the centre as the controversy - brewing over remarks against Prophet Mohammed and his wife by Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal - reached abroad. Four nations - Iran, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia - have registered official protest against the comments, prompting India to assuage concerns of the West Asian countries. Both the leaders on Sunday were removed as the BJP's spokespersons.
KTR hit out at the party over the controversy, in further signs of widening rift between the BJP and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). "PM @narendramodi Ji, Why should India as a country apologise to international community for the hate speeches of BJP bigots? It is BJP that should apologise; not India as a Nation. Your party should first apologise to Indians at home for spewing & spreading hatred day in day out. (sic)," the 45-year-old leader wrote.
"Modi Ji, Your silence was deafening & shocking when BJP MP Pragya Singh hailed assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Let me remind you sir; What you permit is what you promote. The tacit support from top is what emboldened the bigotry & hatred that will cause irreparable loss to India," the son of K. Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, further said. KCR and the BJP have been attacking each other as the Telangana chief minister gathers support of opposition leaders ahead of the 2024 national elections.
Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal apologised on Sunday over their objectionable comments after the BJP suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal. The action came just hours before Iran, Kuwait and Qatar issued official notes. On Monday morning, Saudi Arabia too joined the list.
But the central government has been repeatedly assuring all nations that all religions are respected in India.
The BJP on Sunday - announcing action against Sharma and Jindal - had said it is “against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion.” “The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy…During the thousands of years of the history of India every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions,” it underlined in a statement.
