India: Prophet Remarks Row

June 7, 2022

On June 5, 2022, the BJP suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma as well expelled its Delhi spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal, after their comments about Islam and the Prophet recently.

Highlights

This was done after three Gulf countries, Kuwait, Iran and Qatar, had summoned the Indian ambassadors to their nations for registering their protest. The countries also demanded for public apology from India.
Later on, the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Indonesia, Jordan, the Maldives, Bahrain and Libya have joined the growing list of Nations in Islamic world condemning the remarks.
Saudi Arabia had also issued a strongly worded statement.
Over the row, Indian diplomats have been trying to placate these countries because, India shares good relations with them.

What is the controversy?

Nupur Sharma is at the centre of this controversy. She was a spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In May 2022, she remarked over the Prophet, in a televised debate. Apart from her, Naveen Jindal, who was media head of Delhi unit of BJP, had also posted a provocative tweet on this issue.

What does critics say?

As per critics, comments from both the person reflect deep religious polarisation in India, being witnessed over the past few years. Hate speech and attacks against Muslims have increased sharply since BJP came to power in 2014.

Comments from OIC and Pakistan

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and Pakistan also criticised India. However, New Delhi criticised back stating that, their comments were “unwarranted and narrow-minded”.

India’s trade with GCC

Trade of India with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), that includes countries lime Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, was USD 87 billion in 2020-21. Many Indians live and work in these countries. They send dollars in remittances back home. This region is also the top source for energy imports in India.

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