New Delhi: The Bhartiya Janta Party on Sunday expelled two party spokespersons for making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the Muslim community.
It suspended Nupur Sharma, one of its national spokespersons, from the party’s primary membership for her anti-Islam remarks made during television debate last month.
The BJP’s Delhi unit expelled Naveen Kumar Jindal, who heads the party’s media unit in Delhi for his inflammatory tweets about the Prophet (ﷺ).
Expelling Jindal, the BJP said his views on social media vitiate communal harmony and are in violation of its fundamental beliefs.
“Your primary membership is immediately terminated and you are expelled from the party,” a communication from its Delhi president Adesh Gupta said.
A communication to Sharma from the party’s disciplinary committee said she has expressed views contrary to the party’s position on various matters, which is in clear violation of its constitution.
“Pending further inquiry, you are suspended from the party and from your responsibilities, assignments if any, with immediate effect,” it said.
The BJP earlier asserted that it respects all religions and strongly denounces insult of any religious personality.
Party general secretary Arun Singh said in a statement that the party is strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion.
Pertinently, there has been a widespread protest against Sharma’s derogatory comments on the television channel against the Prophet (ﷺ).
Meanwhile, the foreign ministries of Qatar, Iran and Kuwait have summoned the Indian ambassadors.
The respective countries have summoned India’s Ambassadors and handed over to them protest notes on what the Gulf countries called categorical “rejection and condemnation” of the controversial remarks.
