“No Impact on BJP Government over Nupur Sharma’s Anti-Islam Remarks:” Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI, June 7: The controversial remarks by a suspended BJP functionary against Prophet Mohammad has not created any adverse impact on the BJP-led NDA government at the centre as she was not a government functionary, the union minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. He asserted that good relations would continue with the Gulf countries that have reacted sharply to the issue, pointing out that necessary disciplinary action had already been taken against the persons who made the adverse remarks.

Nupur Sharma was suspended and his colleague Naveen Jindal expelled from the party by the BJP’s central unit on Sunday for their offending remarks against the Prophet that escalated into international outrage in the Gulf countries.

“I don’t think that this statement was made by any government functionary and therefore it has no impact on the government and necessary action has been taken by the party,” Goyal, Minister for Commerce and Industry told reporters when asked about the controversy. He said the foreign ministry has clarified on the issue.

“The Foreign office has come out with a clear clarification on that remark and the BJP has taken the necessary action in this regard. With all these countries, we have a very good relationship and our relations will continue to be very good,” he said. When asked about a social media campaign to boycott Indian products in the wake of the row, the minister said he has not heard of any such thing.

“They (Gulf Countries) have only mentioned that such a statement should not be made and accordingly, action has been taken against the person who made the comments. All the Indians living in gulf countries are safe and do not have to worry,” the union minister said.

Sharma’s comments, made during a TV debate nearly 10 days ago, and Jindal’s now-deleted tweets sparked a Twitter trend calling for a boycott of Indian products in some countries.

(Manas Dasgupta)