Nupur Sharma who was the national spokesperson of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) made controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad. Her remarks made during a TV-debate at May end deeply hurt the sentiments of Indian Muslims and more than a dozen Islamic nations. The BJP decided to suspend Nupur Sharma from the party after her remarks during the debate.
NUPUR SHARMA
Image Source: bbc.com
After the Friday prayers, protests outside Jama Masjid demanding the arrest of the former BJP spokesperson took place.
Some of the protestors left in a short time, while others stayed. Many carried placards and screamed slogans against Nupur Sharma.
Delhi Police registered an FIR against 31 people including the chief of AIMIM, Asaduddin Owaisi. AIMIM ( All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) is an Indian Political Party based in Hyderabad.
A different case against the BJP spokesperson, Nupur Sharma was also registered for ‘spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments’.
PROTESTS OUTSIDE JAMA MASJID
Source: NDTV
Similar demonstrations took place in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest at Jama Masjid remained peaceful and was handled by the members of the masjid committee. The crowd was also seen holding placards reading “arrest Nupur Sharma ”.
Some members of the Jama Masjid committee did not support the demonstration and said it was instigated and carried out by “outsiders”.
The people gathered outside the Jama Masjid said they were “grieving” over the remarks made against their religious leader.
They were extremely disappointed that the people at fault have still not been arrested. They had been expecting the government to arrest Nupur Sharma and deliver justice.
Since Nupur Sharma made the comments regarding the Prophet Muhammad on TV, she and her family have been receiving threats. A different FIR had to be lodged because of her complaint regarding these threats.
These protests also demanded the arrest of Naveen Jindal, the former head of BJP`s media unit. Like Sharma made comments on a TV debate, Jindal made the remarks on twitter which have now been deleted.
A case has been registered against him as well in Maharashtra`s Thane in Bhiwandi City police station.
The case has been registered under section 295(A) (Deliberate & malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC). He has to appear in Bhiwandi on June 15.
Nupur Sharma was summoned by the Mumbai police in Thane on June 22. Another FIR against her has been registered by the Pydhonie police of Mumbai.
India has also been facing the rage of many Arab countries after Sharma and Jindal made their remarks. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and UAE along with Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain Iran and Oman are deeply offended by the remarks made by the two BJP leaders.
Indonesia called the remarks as “unacceptable”. UAE said that the remarks were “ contrary to moral and humanitarian values and principles”.
Saudi Arabia`s foreign affairs ministry gave a statement regarding how the comments made by the BJP spokesperson were insulting to Prophet Muhammad.
They believe in a “permanent rejection of prejudice against the symbols of the Islamic religion”. Qatar, Iran and Kuwait also expressed their hurt sentiments to India`s ambassadors and some nations have even boycotted Indian products.
Congress put allegations on the BJP of defaming India worldwide and even demanded the arrest of both the spokesperson of BJP.
The Congress demanded that “such anti-social elements of the BJP be arrested immediately”.
The Congress tweeted “The BJP has gone so far in its deceitfulness, arrogance, and pride, that it has become blind in its own darkness. The consequences of the BJP`s actions are its own to pay. Not the nation`s”.
