Pakistan has strongly condemned the “highly provocative and sacrilegious remarks” made against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
On Wednesday, Pakistan urged the international community to immediately address the rising anti-Islamic sentiment in India.
Muslim organizations had called for the BJP leader’s arrest for remarks regarding the Prophet (PBUH).
Indian police detained BJP leader T. Raja Singh, a lawmaker in the southern state of Telangana, on suspicion of “promoting hatred in the name of religion” on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Foreign Office condemned the comments and noted that it was the second time in the previous three months that a top BJP leader had spoken disrespectfully about the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
FO stated, “These highly derogatory remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and billions of Muslims around the world.”
The FO spokesperson further said that “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”.
Pakistan also condemned the release of the BJP leader just hours after his detention, calling it “highly reprehensible”.
According to the spokesperson, the recent incident once again brought attention to the “obsessively spiteful demeanor” of the current Indian leadership toward Muslims and “the worrying trajectory” of Islamophobia in India.
The statement further said, “Pakistan demands the Indian government to take immediate and decisive action against the BJP members habitually involved in attacking Islam and targeting the dignity of beloved Prophet (PBUH).”
