The selected cartoons appeared first in other publications, either in print or online, or on social media, and are credited appropriately.
In today’s featured cartoon, E. P. Unny refers to the controversial remarks about the Prophet Muhammad made by ex-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, which resulted in the former’s suspension and the latter’s expulsion from the party following an international outcry. Alluding to the ruling party’s moves to mollify foreign powers, including a note on ‘respecting all religions’, he suggests that the BJP act similarly against instances of hate speech that remain confined to the domestic sphere.
R. Prasad, too, comments on the backlash India has had to face from its strategic partners in the Middle East over the BJP spokespersons’ controversial remarks, and the clarificatory note the ruling party issued in response.
Also drawing on the international fallout of the BJP spokespersons’ remarks, Sajith Kumar refers to the response from the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which in a statement Monday said that India should not allow “fanatics” to speak derogatorily about Islam. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, too, took to Twitter to condemn the remarks.
Sandeep Adhwaryu reflects on a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the backdrop of criticism India has faced from its international partners over the remarks made by the former BJP functionaries. In its statement, the MEA reiterated India’s commitment to secularism, which was added to the Preamble to the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment.
Alok Nirantar takes a jibe at political parties confining their elected representatives to hotels and resorts ahead of elections to 57 Rajya Sabha seats to prevent cross-voting.