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Islamabad on Sunday slammed India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader for passing derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
“I condemn in strongest possible words hurtful comments of India’s BJP leader about our beloved Prophet (PBUH),” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on his official Twitter handle.
I condemn in strongest possible words hurtful comments of India’s BJP leader about our beloved Prophet (PBUH). Have said it repeatedly India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms & persecuting Muslims. World should take note & severely reprimand India. Our love for the >
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 5, 2022
Indian PM Narendra Modi-led BJP earlier today suspended its spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled another, both of whom had made derogatory comments against Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) that triggered a massive outcry from Muslim groups and countries.
“[I] have said it repeatedly [that] India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms and persecuting Muslims. World should take note & severely reprimand India,” said PM Shehbaz.
Also read: US says some Indian officials ignoring or supporting attacks on minorities
“Our love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is supreme. All Muslims can sacrifice their life for the Love & Respect of their Holy Prophet (PBUH).”
Our love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is supreme. All Muslims can sacrifice their life for the Love & Respect of their Holy Prophet (PBUH).
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 5, 2022
At least 40 people, including 20 police personnel, were injured during the clashes after two groups clashed on Friday in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur over a call to shut down markets following the controversial remarks, according to NDTV.
Nupur Sharma has also been named in multiple police cases in Maharashtra over her comment.
The BJP’s clarification came on a day when a wave of anger in Arab nations against the comment and a now-deleted tweet by another spokesperson of India’s ruling party spilled onto social media with trending hashtags and calls for a boycott of Indian products.
FO condemns derogatory remarks
The foreign office also condemned in the strongest possible terms, the highly derogatory remarks recently made by two senior officials of India’s ruling party BJP. “These totally unacceptable remarks have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan but of billions of Muslims around the world,” it said in a statement.
BJP’s attempted clarification and belated and perfunctory disciplinary action against these individuals cannot assuage the pain and anguish they have caused to the Muslim world. Muslims residing in India are equally outraged by the completely repugnant comments by the two BJP officials. The ensuing communal violence in Kanpur and in other parts of India bears testimony to this fact.
Pakistan is also deeply concerned at the alarming rise in communal violence and hatred directed against the Muslims in India. Muslims in India are being systematically stigmatised, marginalised and subjected to a well-orchestrated onslaught from radical Hindu mobs with full connivance and support of the security apparatus across various states in India. Regrettably, the Indian state machinery has remained aloof to the desperate calls for assistance by the local Muslim communities across the country.
The continued grave violations of the rights of minorities in several BJP-ruled states; anti-Muslim legislations by the Union government of India and continued incidents of violence against Muslims on flimsy pretexts by various ‘Hindutva’ groups with complete impunity, and often under state patronage, highlights the worsening trend of Islamophobia and extremism in India. The silence of the top leadership of the BJP is yet another proof that these Hindu zealots have tacit support of the state machinery in carrying out their nefarious designs of marginalization and dehumanizing of the minorities, especially Muslims.
Reprehensibly, it has become a norm in India to deprive the Muslims of their right to live and freely practice their religion. It is deplorable that the BJP-RSS cohort, under extremist ‘Hindutva’ agenda, has maliciously denigrated and perpetrated senseless violence against Indian Muslims and their places of worship.
“Pakistan urges India to ensure that decisive and demonstrable action is taken against those responsible for making derogatory remarks and attacking the dignity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). India must also take immediate steps to protect its minorities from human rights violations, ensure their safety, security and well-being and allow them to profess and practice their faiths in peace,” read the FO statement.
Islamabad once again called on the international community to take immediate cognisance of the grievously aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India.
“India must be held accountable for stifling the rights of the minorities especially Muslims to practice their faith and religious beliefs. The international community must dissuade India from its reprehensible campaign of “saffronization” and ensure that Muslims are not victimized for having different religious beliefs than the majority population. The world must intervene to protect the Muslims in India from an impending genocide at the hands of Hindutva-inspired Hindu zealots, emboldened by the BJP-RSS dispensation at the helm.”
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari censured the BJP officials for “completely repugnant and derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)”.
“Totally unacceptable; hurting sentiments of billions of Muslims around the world. Time for international community to stop the ‘Hindutva’ inspired Islamophobia in India,” he said in a tweet from his official handle.
We strongly condemn the completely repugnant & derogatory remarks by BJP officials about our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Totally unacceptable; hurting sentiments of billions of Muslims around the world. Time for intl comm to stop the ‘Hindutva’ inspired Islamophobia in India https://t.co/JZmmPLyQwx
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 5, 2022
‘BJP must shun Hindutva ideology’
President Dr Arif Alvi also condemned in “strongest possible words” the hurtful comments of India’s BJP leaders about the Holy Prophet (PBUH) saying these derogatory and controversial remarks hurt the feelings of all Muslims around the world.
This, he said, was the reflection of growing trend of Islamophobia in India where Muslims lived in millions.
The President said that merely suspending and expelling party officials was not enough but BJP must shun and denounce its extremist and fascist Hindutva ideology.
“Allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment constitutes grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalisation which will create a cycle of violence and hate,” he added.
He called upon the world community, United Nations and international human rights organizations to take a serious notice of rising Islamophobia and systematic religious persecution in India without impunity and take all steps necessary to put an end to it.
Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan also denounced the “hateful attack” by a BJP spokesperson on Holy Prophet (PBUH).
“Modi govt has been deliberately following a policy of provocation & hatred towards Muslims in India including inciting vigilante violence against them, he wrote on his official Twitter handle.
Strongly condemn the hateful attack by a BJP spokesperson on our beloved Holy Prophet PBUH. Modi govt has been deliberately following a policy of provocation & hatred towards Muslims in India including inciting vigilante violence against them.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 5, 2022
“This attack on our Holy Prophet PBUH is the most painful thing anyone can do to Muslims who feel an intense love & reverence for our Holy Prophet PBUH. OIC must take strong action against Modi’s India because sadly so far India has been allowed to get away with its Islamophobic policies,” he added.
This attack on our Holy Prophet PBUH is the most painful thing anyone can do to Muslims who feel an intense love & reverence for our Holy Prophet PBUH. OIC must take strong action ag Modi’s India bec sadly so far India has been allowed to get away with its Islamophobic policies.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 5, 2022