External Affairs Ministry distances itself from offensive feedback as OIC, Qatar, Kuwait and Pakistan difficulty sturdy condemnations
External Affairs Ministry distances itself from offensive feedback as OIC, Qatar, Kuwait and Pakistan difficulty sturdy condemnations
The authorities on Sunday confronted a rising diplomatic storm over feedback made by the suspended BJP leaders, as international locations within the Gulf area summoned Ambassadors and conveyed their issues about rising “extremism and hatred” the feedback signified. Qatar and Kuwait summoned India’s ambassadors in Doha and Kuwait City respectively and demanded a “public apology” from New Delhi for the feedback that have been thought-about “Islamophobic”, as did Iran, and a variety of different Arab international locations are understood to have informally conveyed their issues over the feedback to India. The controversy erupted whilst Vice President Venkaiah Naidu started his go to to Doha, a part of a three-nation tour. The Iranian protest got here three days earlier than the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is because of make his first go to to Delhi.
Meanwhile the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) additionally issued a “strong condemnation” of what it referred to as “abuses by an official of the ruling party of India (BJP)”, linking the feedback to earlier choices to ban the hijab at instructional establishments in sure Indian states, violence towards minorities, and demolitions of their property.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif referred to as the feedback “hurtful”, and accused the Modi authorities of “trampling [on] religious freedoms and persecuting Muslims.”
While the Indian Embassy in Doha and Kuwait subsequently issued statements clarifying that the feedback “did not reflect the views of the Government of India”, and referred to as these posting offensive tweets, as “fringe elements”, the Qatari and Kuwaiti governments demanded a public apology from the federal government.
“Noting that State of Qatar is expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Government of India, pointing out that allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment, constitutes a grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalization, which will create a cycle of violence and hate,” the Foreign Ministry of Qatar mentioned.
In a stronger touch upon Twitter, Qatar’s Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson Lolwah Alkhater wrote that “Islamophobic discourse has reached dangerous levels in a country long known for its diversity and coexistence”, indicating India. He mentioned except the federal government of India “officially and systemically” confronts hate speech, it will be thought-about a “deliberate insult” towards two billion Muslims worldwide.
An official dinner in honour of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to be held by the Deputy Emir of Qatar Abdullah bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was additionally cancelled on Sunday night, sources confirmed, ostensibly as he was suspected to have are available in contact with a person who had examined optimistic for Coronavirus. When requested, Officials mentioned that the cancellation was not linked to Qatar’s protest over the offensive feedback and identified that Mr. Naidu had been knowledgeable of the cancellation earlier and the remainder of the Vice President’s go to was continuing as scheduled and has not been curtailed.
In its response, the Indian Embassy issued an announcement, hours after Ambassador Deepak Mittal was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and handed the demarche.
“In line with our civilisational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, Government of India accords the highest respect to all religions,” learn the assertion, including that “Strong action has already been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks.” “A statement has also been issued by concerned quarters emphasizing respect for all religions, denouncing insult to any religious personality or demeaning any religion or sect,” it mentioned, referring to the assertion issued by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. A similiar assertion was issued by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait after Ambassador Sibi George was summoned.
Speaking to The Hindu, commentators indicated that the official protests by the Arab international locations, that got here greater than every week after the unique feedback have been made by a BJP spokesperson on the Times Now information channel, had adopted rising outrage expressed on social media, together with requires a boycott of Indian-made merchandise. “We in Saudi Arabia know that majority of Hindus in India do no subscribe to such extreme opinions and I have many Hindu friends. Yet, we wonder why certain people are making provocative statements as that will not help us at all,” mentioned former editor of Arab News and Saudi Gazette Khaled Almayeena.
Source: www.thehindu.com
