Prophet Muhammed Remark Row: Pakistan Summons Indian Officials Over Comments By Nupur Sharma

Pakistan was deeply concerned over the alarming rise in communal violence and hatred against the Muslims in India, said the Foreign Office

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New Delhi:  Pakistan has joined the list of nations to summon the Indian charg d'affaires to convey its categorical rejection and condemnation of the controversial remarks by two BJP leaders against Prophet Mohammed. Earlier, the remarks have caused anger among Arab nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran. Saudi Arabia also issued official notes to India. The Indian diplomat conveyed that these remarks are totally unacceptable and have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan but of Muslims across the world, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement, reported news agency PTI.  

It further noted that Pakistan deplores the belated and perfunctory disciplinary actions taken by the BJP government against the said officials, which cannot assuage the pain caused to the Muslims. Meanwhile, the BJP on Sunday suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal over their remarks.

The BJP had issued a statement on Sunday to assuage the concerns of minorities and distancing itself from these members, asserting that it respects all religions and strongly denounces the insult of any religious personality. The FO said Pakistan was deeply concerned over the alarming rise in communal violence and hatred against the Muslims in India.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday suspended Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal from the party’s primary membership. The ruling party had already distanced itself from the controversial comments allegedly made by Sharma against Prophet Mohammed. BJP national general secretary Arun Singh in a statement said the party is strongly against any ideology, which insults or demeans any sect or religion.

Both the leaders clarified later it was never their intention to hurt anyone’s religious feelings.

India also categorically rejected the statement by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday as 'unwarranted and narrow-minded' comments and reiterated its stance that India accords the highest respect to all religions.

The 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) raised concerns against the "systematic harassment of minorities in India" on Sunday. India conveyed to Qatar and Kuwait that it had taken strong action against those who made controversial remarks on Twitter against the minorities.