Prophet remark row: US condemns statements by ex-BJP spokespersons

“We regularly engage with the Indian government at senior levels on human rights concerns including freedom of religion or belief and we encourage India to promote respect for human rights,” Price added, reported AFP. 

Former Bharatiya Janata Party spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal kicked off controversy in early June after the former made some derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim community in a television debate and the latter made some inflammatory remarks in a tweet.

The BJP suspended both members from the party. “The BJP strongly denounces insults of any religious personalities of any religion. The Bharatiya Janata Party is also against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion. The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy,” BJP General Secretary Arun Singh had said in a statement.

.@StateDeptSpox says US has “condemned the offensive comments made by BJP officials” on Prophet Mohammed that set off unrest in India

— Shaun Tandon (@shauntandon) June 16, 2022

“During the thousands of years of the history of India every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions,” it added.

Several countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, the Maldives, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman and Afghanistan were among the many countries in the Islamic world that expressed their displeasure with the remarks.