New Delhi: People in large numbers gathered at Delhi’s Jama Masjid Friday to protest inflammatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad by now suspended and expelled BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.
The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, however, said no call for protest was given by the mosque.
#WATCH People in large numbers protest at Delhi's Jama Masjid over inflammatory remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma & expelled leader Naveen Jindal, earlier today
No call for protest given by Masjid, says Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid. pic.twitter.com/Kysiz4SdxH
— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2022
Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari said: “We don’t know who were protesting. I think they belong to AIMIM or Asaduddin Owaisi’s people. We made it clear that if they want to protest, they can, but we will not support them.”
The Delhi Police removed the protesters later and said the situation was under control.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled the party’s Delhi media cell chief Naveen Kumar Jindal for their controversial statements against Prophet Muhammad.
The comments have made India the target of a diplomatic offensive with Muslim-dominated countries condemning the remarks. Several countries summoned Indian envoys to register their protest.
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not commented on the incident, Indian embassies in Gulf nations have said the remarks do not in any manner reflect the views of the government of India.
The police of Maharashtra and Delhi have registered cases against Nupur Sharma. The Delhi Police also named Naveen Jindal in an FIR this week, along with several others who purportedly spread hate on social media.
Also read: India reiterates remarks against Prophet do not reflect views of the govt