It is now the elephant in the room. The attempt by the government to distance itself from the BJP leader Nupur Sharma and her derogatory remarks against the Prophet and Islam on a television channel has so far failed to diffuse the escalating diplomatic controversy.
The United Nations is the latest to comment on the incident. The spokesperson for secretary-general Antonio Guterres said that the UN strongly encourages respect and tolerance for all religions. Responding to a question by a Pakistani journalist at the daily press briefing Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General has been quoted as saying “I’ve seen stories. I haven’t seen the remarks themselves, but I mean, regardless, I can tell you that we strongly encourage respect and tolerance for all religions.”
The diplomatic row is far from over. Fifteen countries across the Islamic world have chosen to lodge their protests with India. And now it has reached closer home. Maldives and Indonesia are the latest to join the bandwagon. In a tweet, the Indonesian foreign ministry said: "Indonesia strongly condemns unacceptable derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad PBUH by two Indian politicians. This message has been conveyed to the Indian Ambassador in Jakarta." The Maldives also deep concern made officials of BJP, India, insulting the holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the religion of Islam," it said.
"The Government of Maldives unreservedly condemns all and any action that purports to pervert the true nature and teachings of Islam and attempts to demean the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)," the statement read.
While the ministry of external affairs has been trying to firefight, the condemnation closer home is likely to be a worry for India. It will not be so easy to shrug off the growing unease that is being felt in the neighbourhood with the rising rhetoric against Muslims. It is no secret that Bangladesh has been uncomfortable with the proposed Citizenship Amendment Act. And now with Sharma's derogatory comments, the shadow of domestic politics will loom large on the region.
It also comes at a time when India has been criticised in the newly released report by the US state department on religious freedom. The report alleged that there were attacks on members of the minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation in 2021. The secretary for State Antony Blinken mentioned India at the release of the report last week. His remarks had sparked a controversy. “For example, in India, the world’s largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, we have seen rising attacks on people and places of worship,'' Blinken has been quoted as saying. India reacted sharply to the allegations of the report. The spokesperson of MEA Arindam Bagchi rejected the observation as “motivated inputs and biased views”.
It will take frantic diplomatic peddling for India to curtail the situation. Even after the suspension of Sharma and the measured statement issued by the BJP.
