Prophet Remarks Row: Will Nupur Sharma Be Arrested Amid Growing Demand From Opposition Parties?

On Monday, AIMIM leader Assaduddin Owaisi demanded Sharma’s arrest claiming that her derogatory remarks led India to an embarrassing position. 

Former BJP National Spokesperson Nupur Sharma ( Image Source :PTI )

Bharatiya Janata Party’s former national spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s comments on Prophet Muhammad have gained a lot of criticism in the last few days including on the international level. While many Gulf countries have demanded official action from the Indian government, the situation back home is also not easy as the opposition is demanding Nupur Sharma’s arrest claiming that a suspension is not enough. 

On Monday, AIMIM leader Assaduddin Owaisi demanded Sharma’s arrest claiming that her derogatory remarks led India to an embarrassing position. 

He said, “India has lost face. The country’s foreign policy was destroyed. The fringe has become mainstream. I demand [Nupur Sharma’s] arrest, not just suspension.”

Owaisi also targeted the Ministry of External Affairs saying, “Has the foreign ministry become a part of the BJP? What will you do if there are hate crimes and violence against Indian nationals in Gulf countries?”

On the other hand, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has also been demanding Sharma’s arrest.

Meanwhile, according to a report by news agency ANI, Mumbai police will also send summons to Sharma for her remarks, the Mumbai cop Sanjay Pandey said. 

“Mumbai Police will soon send a summon to suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma & record her statement, in connection with her alleged comments against Prophet Mohammed during a news debate on the Gyanvapi issue,” he said.

Given that, Sharma was suspended from the BJP’s primary membership over her comments on the TV debate on Gyanvapi Mosque a few days ago. Delhi BJP’s media head Naveen Jindal was also expelled from the party for his now-deleted tweets which were derogatory in nature.

Meanwhile, Sharma retreated from her comments after suspension saying, "If my words have caused discomfort or hurt religious feelings of anyone whatsoever, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my statement. It was never my intention to hurt anyone's religious feelings."

Responding to Sharma’s action, BJP leader Sadhvi Prachi has announced support her Sharma and Jindal. Sadhvi Prachi said that Sharma is being punished for speaking the truth. 

“Nupur has been punished for speaking the truth,” Prachi told reporters in Muzaffarnagar on Monday. “It is really ridiculous…how can one be punished for speaking the truth? Truth can never be defeated,” she said adding, “Everyone who believes in Sanatan Dharma is in support of Nupur and Naveen.”

On the other hand, Delhi police have provided security to Nupur Sharma and her family as she claimed that she was getting death threats over her remarks, news agency PTI reported.