"Denounce Insult Of Religious Personalities": BJP Suspends Spokespersons
NDTV
Nupur Sharma's comment during a TV debate last week, purportedly insulting the Prophet, had triggered a huge outcry and protests from Muslim groups.
The BJP on Sunday suspended party spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal over their comments on Prophet Muhammad, after saying it "strongly denounces insult of any religious personalities" amid a massive backlash and violence.
"During the thousands of years of the history of India, every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions. The BJP strongly denounces insult of any religious personalities of any religion," it said in a statement earlier in the day.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party is also strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion. The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy," it said.
"India's Constitution gives the right to every citizen to practise any religion of his/her choice and to honour and respect every religion," the party said.
