Mixing religion with politics comes with a price tag, this time it costs India- Arab ties

Former BJP spokesperson Nurpur Sharma’s remark on Prophet has given birth to international controversy. Her derogatory remark against Prophet Mohammed has put India in an embarrassing situation worldwide. Also Read| Operation Blue Star 38th anniversary: Amritsar fortified, uneasy calm engulfs the city Neighbouring Kuwait, like Qatar, summoned India's ambassador and demanded a "public apology for these hostile statements, the continuation of which would constitute a deterrent measure or punishment to increase extremism and hatred and undermine the elements of moderation". The Indian envoy in Doha was summoned to the foreign ministry and handed an official protest letter which said "Qatar is expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the government of India". Qatar's condemnation came amid Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's high-profile tour of the wealthy Gulf state along with Indian business leaders to boost trade. Although BJP expelled its spokesperson almost immediately after the controversy sparked, but the action was too meek to control the damage done. On Thursday, June 2, United States’ secretary of state Anthony Blinken said, “n 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”. He was speaking at an event organised for releasing the state department’s annual report on international religious freedom” And his statement was enough to offend India. In a strongly-worded response, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi, said that India had taken note of the “ill-informed comments by senior US officials”, calling it a direct attack. “It is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practiced in international relations. We would urge that assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided,” he said. But this time India is under fire, ruling parties’ agenda to insert religion in almost every debate is exposed to the world, for which they now seek an apology. Also Read|Hawala Transactions Case: ED raids Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain's residence -PTC News   The views expressed are personal.