The United States on Thursday condemned remarks by Indian ruling occasion officers in regards to the Prophet Mohammed which have sparked an uproar in Muslim international locations.
“We condemn the offensive comments made by two BJP officials and we were glad to see that the party publicly condemns those comments,” State Department spokesman Ned Price instructed reporters.
“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,” he mentioned.
Nupur Sharma, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, on May 26 made televised remarks in regards to the youngest spouse of the prophet of Islam which have triggered demonstrations throughout the Islamic world.
The remarks set off diplomatic protests not solely in rival Pakistan however in rich Arab states that normally get pleasure from shut relations with India. In Bangladesh, protesters have demanded a proper condemnation from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a detailed ally of India.
In damage-control mode, the BJP suspended Ms. Sharma in addition to Naveen Kumar Jindal, one other determine within the occasion who was accused of inflammatory tweets in regards to the Prophet Mohammed.
The United States for the reason that late Nineteen Nineties has sought to deepen ties with India, believing the world’s two largest democracies have widespread pursuits particularly within the face of a rising China.
The United States, nonetheless, has a number of occasions fastidiously voiced concern about human rights in India as Mr. Modi faces accusations of pursuing insurance policies that concentrate on the Muslim minority.
Source: www.thehindu.com
