India in Damage Control After Officials’ Divisive Remarks on Islam Enrage Mideast

© AP Photo / Bikas DasSupporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cheer with party flags as they attend an election rally addressed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Mathurapur, south of Kolkata, India, Thursday, May 16, 2019
Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cheer with party flags as they attend  an election rally addressed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Mathurapur, south of Kolkata, India, Thursday, May 16, 2019 - Sputnik International, 1920, 09.06.2022
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Indian government has sought to distance itself from the officials in the ruling Hindu party BJP after their insulting remarks on Islam prompted an outcry from Iran and Gulf Arab nations.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi called a news conference on Thursday to assure reporters that the offending comments "do not reflect the views of the government."
"This has been conveyed to our interlocutors as also the fact that action has been taken by the concerned quarters against those who made the comments and tweets," he added.
BJP spokespeople Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal were suspended over the weekend for making derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad after Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait complained to New Delhi.
An imam holds the Quran after a prayer at a mosque - Sputnik International, 1920, 29.05.2022
Indian Muslim Groups Call for Arrest of BJP Spokesperson for 'Insulting' the Prophet in TV Debate
The row has overshadowed Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s first visit to India this week. He met with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
The top Iranian diplomat said that Tehran and New Delhi had agreed on "the need to respect divine religions and Islamic sanctities" and avoid divisive rhetoric. He said the two were determined to bring their relationship to new heights.
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