ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday condemned what it called “highly provocative and sacrilegious remarks” made against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by T. Raja Singh, an Indian BJP ruling party lawmaker in the southern state of Telangana.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suspended Singh’s membership on Tuesday, hours after he was arrested on suspicion of “promoting enmity in the name of religion.” The legislator was later released by a court in Hyderabad city, a lawyer for Singh told media, after Muslim groups demanded his arrest for his comments about the Prophet Muhammad.
Hundreds of Muslims protested against Singh on Monday and Tuesday after a video appeared on social media in which he is heard making references to Islam’s prophet.
“This is the second time in the last three months that a senior BJP leader has made disrespectful comments against our beloved Prophet Muhammad,” the Pakistani foreign office said, saying the remarks had “gravely hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and billions of Muslims around the world.”
“The token and perfunctory disciplinary action taken by the BJP against the said official cannot assuage the pain and anguish caused to the Muslims of India and around the world. It is highly reprehensible that Mr. Singh was released on bail within hours of arrest and was welcomed by BJP zealots,” the foreign office added.
Pakistan demanded the Indian government take immediate and decisive action against BJP members “habitually involved in attacking Islam and targeting the dignity of beloved Prophet” and urged the international community to take cognizance of what it called growing Islamophobia in India.
Singh’s suspension comes months after the BJP suspended a spokesperson over remarks on the prophet that had led to a diplomatic backlash against India.