Indian embassy to Qatar refers Nupur Sharma as ‘fringe element’: There is widespread outrage in the Arab countries after two BJP national spokespersons made derogatory comments on Prophet Muhammad. After the Qatar government summoned the Indian embassy over the derogatory comments on the Prophet, the Kuwait government has now raised its objection by summoning the Indian ambassador. The Qatar and Kuwait governments have lodged an objection to the statements of ruling BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her aide Naveen Kumar Jindal.
Also read: After Arab countries threatened to boycott Indian products, BJP suspended Nupur Sharma
On the other hand, there are strong protests against India in Arab countries regarding this statement. Indian products have been removed from stores and shops in Gulf countries. People are boycotting Indian products. Calls to boycott Indian goods and movies have flooded social media with trending hashtags.
Gulf countries boycott Indian products
After the statement of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, Twitter trends against PM Modi and India on top in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries for the last 36 hours. Superstores in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain have removed Indian products following derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad by a close aide of Indian PM Modi. The outcry started after a video of her insulting the Prophet Muhammad went viral on Arab social media.
Indian Ambassador to Qatar refers Nupur Sharma as ‘fringe element’
Ambassador Deepak Mittal held a meeting at the Foreign Office in which Qatar expressed concern over the derogatory comments of Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal. The Indian Embassy in Qatar said in a statement that the Ambassador has conveyed that the tweets do not in any way reflect the views of the Government of India. These are ideas of fringe elements. The Indian Embassy said that in line with our civilizational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, the Government of India accords the highest regard to all religions. Strict action has already been taken against those making derogatory remarks.
The Ministry of External Affairs said – some people want to spoil the relations between the two countries.
Issuing a statement, the Government of India has distanced itself from the statement of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the statement of an individual is not the statement of the Government of India. The tweets do not in any way reflect the views of the Government of India. These are the views of the ancillary elements. Strict action has already been taken against those making derogatory remarks. The Ministry of External Affairs said that some vested interests who are against India-Qatar relationship have been instigating people by using these derogatory remarks. We must work together against such miscreants who aim to undermine the strength of our bilateral relations.