New Delhi: Qatar became the first country to express its annoyance with the remarks by a BJP spokesperson on Prophet Mohammed PBUH by summoning the Indian envoy Deepak Mittal and demanding a public apology from the Government of India.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also conveyed its “total rejection and condemnation to the controversial remarks made by an official in the ruling party in India against Prophet Mohammed PBUH Islam and Muslims,’’ said an official statement.
In a press release, a spokesperson of the Indian Embassy here said that the Ambassador had a meeting in the Foreign Office in which concerns were raised with regard to some offensive tweets by individuals in India denigrating the religious personality.
“Ambassador conveyed that the tweets do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. These are the views of fringe elements,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi told Mittal that he welcomed the BJP statement in which it announced the suspension of its official from “practicing his activities in the party due to his remarks that angered all Muslims around the world.”
Noting that Qatar is expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Government of India and pointing out that allowing such Islamophobic remarks must not continue without punishment, Al-Muraikhi said, such statement may lead to further prejudice and marginalization, which will create a cycle of violence and hate.
“Strong action has already been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks,” the spokesperson of the Indian Embassy here said.
“In line with our civilisational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, Government of India accords the highest respect to all religions,” the official added.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is currently visiting Qatar and on Sunday he met Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani here.
Noting that vested interests that are against India-Qatar relations have been inciting the people using these derogatory comments, the spokesperson said that the two sides should work together against such mischievous elements who aim to undercut the strength of their bilateral ties.