India struggles to resolve rift with Muslim world after BJP staff insult Prophet Mohammed

SMA NEWS – NEW DELHI
New Delhi is struggling to manage the diplomatic fallout after 15 Muslim nations, including leading Gulf countries, lodged complaints over derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed made by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party officials.

Jordan, the Maldives, Libya, Turkey and Indonesia joined Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait in denouncing the comments.

The BJP, a Hindu nationalist party, suspended spokeswoman Nupur Sharma and expelled Naveen Kumar Jindal at the weekend after outrage over their remarks.

The ruling party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government have distanced themselves from the comments, which they described as the views of “fringe elements”.

However, the fallout seems far from over. The UAE expressed its “condemnation and rejection of [remarks] insulting the Prophet Mohammed” and underscored the need to “respect religious symbols and not violate them, as well as confront hate speech and violence”.

Qatar, Kuwait and Iran summoned India’s envoys in the respective countries to lodge strong complaints. The Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan also lodged official protests with New Delhi.

Religious figures in Oman and Egypt criticised India’s ruling party, describing the comments as “a war on all Muslims”.

Indian products such as rice and spices were taken off the shelves in a Kuwaiti supermarket after clerics called for a boycott of the country’s goods.

New Delhi, which has strengthened economic and strategic partnerships with Gulf nations under Mr Modi’s rule, took immediate steps to punish the officials.

The controversy could prove a setback to the growing relationship between India and the Gulf countries that play a crucial role in its economy.