Page 4 - The Indian EYE 061722

BIG STORY JUNE 17, 2022 | The Indian Eye 4

PROPHET REMARKS ROW

GOVT FACES HEAT

The Gulf nations put pressure on India as the controversy about inflammatory comments by two BJP leaders
takes a serious turn. How is the government tackling the pressure from abroad and anger on streets?

OUR BUREAU religion. The BJP does not promote
such people or philosophy.” BJP
New Delhi/Lucknow/Mumbai
stated that it “respects all religions”
he ongoing controversy over and is “strongly against any ideology
remarks about Prophet Mo- which insults or demeans any sect or
Thammad took a serious turn religion”.
on Friday as several incidents of vi- “During the thousands of years
olence including sloganeering and of the history of India every religion
stone-pelting were reported from has blossomed and flourished. The
several parts of Uttar Pradesh after Bharatiya Janata Party respects all
Friday prayers when people began religions,” the brief statement said.
protesting against the inflammatory But the situation now is serious.
statements of suspended BJP leader A massive protest took place at Del-
Nupur Sharma and expelled party hi’s Jama Masjid over remarks by
leader Naveen Kumar Jindal. Sharma and Jindal on Friday. Delhi
In a news debate on the Gyanva- Police said they have removed the
pi issue, Sharma allegedly made con- protestors and the situation is un-
troversial comments about Prophet der control now. “No call for protest
Mohammad. Jindal allegedly tweet- given by Masjid. We don’t know who
ed against the interests of the coun- All India Maulavi Mission members hold placards during a protest against suspended are the ones protesting, I think they
try. Following the comments made BJP leader Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal over their alleged remarks, at Labour Camp, belong to AIMIM or are Owaisi’s
by Sharma and Jindal, several Twit- Dharavi, in Mumbai on Friday. (ANI Photo) people. We made it clear that if they
ter users of the Gulf countries voiced want to protest, they can, but we will
for boycotting products made in In- quarters against those who made the Yogi Adityanath has directed to take not support them,” Shahi Imam,
dia. Some Twitter users wrote, “Such comments and tweets.” strict action against hooligans after Jama Masjid told media persons.
leaders should be sent to jail immedi- incidents of stone-pelting broke out Meanwhile, Delhi Police regis-
ately, otherwise we will come out on Meanwhile, several other states in various parts of the state. tered two FIRs-- one against former
the streets to get them arrested.” Earlier on June 3, a violent clash BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma
“After call for Boycotting Indi- including Delhi, Maharashtra, broke out between two groups be- and the other against 31 people, in-
an Products, BJP Delhi distances Karnataka, Jharkhand, Punjab, longing to different communities cluding AIMIM chief Asaduddin
itself from statements made by their allegedly over a market shutdown in Owaisi and controversial priest Yati
spokesperson on television and tweet Hyderabad, and Gujarat also Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. As many as Narsinghanand - for allegedly spread-
by BJP member Naveen Kumar Jin- faced massive protests against 36 persons were arrested and 3 FIRs ing hate and hurting religious sen-
dal,” wrote another user. have been registered in the Kanpur timents, officials said on Thursday.
Some Gulf countries have lodged the leader’s controversial re- violence case and further investiga- Various parts of Punjab wit-
their protest. However, India on marks. tion is underway. nessed protests over the inflam-
Thursday reiterated that the contro- Earlier, in an apparent response matory remarks of the suspended
versial remarks concerning Prophet On Friday, a clash erupted in to the ongoing controversy over par- Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur
Mohammad do not reflect the views Prayagaraj between police and pro- ty spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Sharma and expelled party leader
of the Government and added that testers. Stones were also hurled Naveen Kumar Jindal’s alleged in- Naveen Jindal. “After the protest call
action has been taken by concerned during clashes in the Atala area flammatory remarks against minori- by Ludhiana Jama Masjid, protests
quarters against those who made the of Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagaraj. A ties, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on were held across Punjab demanding
comments. huge protest was witnessed in Ut- Sunday suspended Sharma and Jin- the arrest of those who disrespected
Ministry of External Affairs dal from the primary membership of the Prophet,” said Shahi Imaam of
Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, tar Pradesh’s Saharanpur over the the party till further notice. Ludhiana Jama Masjid. Meanwhile,
inflammatory statements of the
while addressing a media briefing above-mentioned BJP leaders. Sim- BJP said in a statement issued protests against Sharma and Jindal
on Thursday, said, “We have made it ilarly, a huge crowd in Moradabad by its general secretary Arun Singh, have been reported from various
pretty clear that the tweets and com- also protested against the suspended “The BJP strongly denounces insult parts of the country, including Delhi,
ments do not reflect views of the gov- BJP leader and demanding her arrest of any religious personalities of any and Uttar Pradesh.
ernment. This has been conveyed to over her inflammatory remarks. religion. The Bharatiya Janata Par- As per the reports, a massive pro-
our interlocutors as also the fact that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister ty is also against any ideology which test broke out at Delhi’s Jama Masjid
action has been taken by concerned insults or demeans any section or Continued at next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com