BJP suspends party spokespersons Nupur Sharma, Naveen Kumar from primary membership
Highlights
- Nupur Sharma suspended from BJP's primary membership, Naveen Jindal expelled
- Decision was taken amid protests by Muslim groups
- Party also issued a statement aimed at assuaging the concerns of minorities earlier today
Delhi: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma from the party over controversial comments allegedly made by her against Prophet Mohammed. The party also expelled Naveen Kumar Jindal, who heads its Delhi media, from the party, saying that 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. "Pending further inquiry, you are suspended from the party and from your responsibilities, assignments if any, with immediate effect," it said. Jindal had posted objectionable tweets, deleted later, and has been accused of often posting inciting comments.
The decision came soon after the party issued a statement earlier today distancing itself from her comments.
Their comments also sparked a Twitter trend calling for boycotting Indian products in some countries. The BJP is trying hard to defuse the controversy amid protests from Muslim groups that have erupted since the comments were made by the party spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The controversy snowballed into violence after major clashes broke out in Pared, Nai Sadak and Yateemkhana areas of Kanpur city after Friday prayers when some people tried to force shopkeepers to down shutters over allegedly insulting remarks made by Sharma during a TV debate recently.
Also Read | BJP distances itself from comments made by Nupur Sharma, says party respects all religions
The BJP asserted that it respects all religions and strongly denounces insult of any religious personality. Party doesn't promote such people or philosophy, Arun Singh said. He said, "During the thousands of years of history of India every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions. Party strongly denounces insult of any religious personalities of any religion." India's Constitution gives the right to every citizen to practise any religion of his or her choice and to honour and respect every religion, he said. "As India celebrates the 75th year of its Independence, we are committed to making India a great country where all are equal and everyone lives with dignity, where all are committed to India's unity and integrity, where all enjoy the fruits of growth and development," the BJP leader said.
However, the official statement made no direct mention of any incident or comment made by Sharma during the debate.
FIR was also registered against Sharma in Maharashtra's Pune for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through her comments. The case was registered at Kondhwa police station on a complaint lodged by Abdul Gafur Pathan, a former corporator of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The Raza Academy also filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner against her.
(Agency Inputs)
Also Read | FIR against BJP's Nupur Sharma in Pune for ‘objectionable’ remarks on Prophet Muhammad
