Published on : 14/06/2022 – 13:07
Since May 26, the words of a spokeswoman for the Hindu nationalist party BJP have not passed on to the Muslim community. This weekend was again marked by major demonstrations by the Muslim community, followed by strong repression and political turmoil.
With our correspondent in Bangalore, Como Bastin
On May 26, Times Now is discussing an explosive issue in India at the moment: Should a mosque be destroyed because it was built on the remains of a Hindu temple? The debate escalates and BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma quips on Aisha’s agewife of the Prophet Muhammad, whose marriage would have been consummated at the age of 9.
At the time, these provocations, quite common in Modi’s India, did not cause any major scandal. But the video circulates and reaches the Gulf countries, which are otherwise more likely. Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, then Indonesia and Malaysia summon their Indian ambassadors.
A dilemma for Narendra Modi, because India maintains important economic relations with these countries. Some are major suppliers of hydrocarbons and also host a large Indian diaspora. On June 5, the Prime Minister resolves, a first in the history of the BJP, to exclude Nupur Sharma as well as Naveen Jindal, another party figure who made fun of the prophet of Islam.
Anger in India
Most Muslim countries welcome disciplinary action. But the controversy will then reach Indian soil, first within the BJP, the ruling party. While some understand that his exclusion is diplomatically necessary, others see it as an admission of weakness towards Muslim countries.
The pill goes badly, especially since the BJP did not hesitate to qualify its two members as ” marginal “, what is wrong. « If telling the truth is a rebellion, then I’m a rebel too », launches the controversial parliamentarian Pragya Thakur. And on the Internet, the hashtags #HonteauBJP or #SoutienaNupurSharma are starting to flourish.
The crisis will also win over Indian Muslims who, resigned for years to the contempt of the Hindu nationalist party towards their religion, see in this international outcry the opportunity to finally express their frustration. This Friday, the anger exploded again. Hundreds of arrests, two deaths and a violent crackdown in Uttar Pradesh where the house of alleged troublemakers is bulldozed. And here again, division sets in, this time among Muslims.
► Listen again to the report of our correspondent in India Côme Bastin: India: after violent gatherings of Muslims, repression rages
The Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Grand Mosque calls for an end to gatherings. But the Council of the Union of Muslims of all India rises for its part against police violence and demands, like the demonstrators, a trial for the former spokesperson of the BJP. She is also summoned by the police of several Indian states.
Next Friday’s prayer promises to be under high tension and the international imbroglio was relaunched on Monday since Kuwait, a Muslim country, announced that it was going to expel from its territory the Indians who demonstrated against the Hindu party.