Pakistan premier slams Indian BJP leaders' insulting remarks about Prophet Muhammad

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Pakistan's prime minister on Monday joined a growing chorus of condemnation over Indian ruling party officials' offensive remarks about the Prophet Muhammad, urging the international community to "take note and severely punish" New Delhi.

“I condemn in strongest possible words, (the) hurtful comments of India’s BJP leader(s) about our beloved Prophet (PBUH). Have said it repeatedly (that) India under (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is trampling religious freedom, and persecuting Muslims,” Shehbaz Sharif said in a series of tweets on Sunday.

“Our love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is supreme. All Muslims can sacrifice their life for the love and respect of their Holy Prophet (PBUH),” he added.

Last week, ruling BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, the BJP’s Delhi media head, made insulting remarks about Muhammad, triggering a wave of condemnation at home and from the Islamic world.

Earlier on Monday, India said the remarks do not reflect the views of the government, with the "relevant bodies" taking strong action against them.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi stressed that they "do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India."

The BJP on Sunday said that it has suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal in response to the insulting remarks.