India's BJP Sacks Two Spokespersons over Comments on Prophet

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday sacked two of its spokespersons over their recent controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad that triggered a major diplomatic row with the Gulf states.

Announcing the suspension of BJP national spokesperson Nupur Sharma from her post and expulsion of its Delhi media cell head, Naveen Kumar Jindal, the party said that it “respects all religions”.

“The BJP does not promote such persons or philosophy… it (the BJP) strongly denounces the insult of any religious personalities of any religion,” the party said in a statement.

In fact, the BJP swung into firefighting mode after two of the Gulf states -- Qatar and Kuwait, with which India shares close ties -- summoned the Indian envoys in their respective countries to lodge their "strong protest" over their controversial remarks.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry made it clear to Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal that it was "expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Government of India".

"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 Gulf state said.

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry too demanded a "public apology (from the BJP) for these hostile statements".

India's main opposition Congress party, however, lashed out at the BJP over the fiasco and questioned if the ruling outfit was on a course correction mode.

"The placatory expulsion of two key members and spokespersons of the BJP from its primary membership, done obviously under duress of threats from external powers, exposes the much touted ‘muscular posturing’ and positioning of the BJP and the Modi Government. Is the BJP sincere in course correcting?" the Congress said in a statement.