Tuesday
23rd Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
UNGA President Shahid with Indian PM Narendra Modi.
TMJ has been able to confirm that the Government of Maldives’ condemnation of the comments by India’s ruling party Baharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma against the Prophet Mohammed was delayed because they were waiting for clearance from Indian Embassy.
A senior figure at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the news to TMJ.
The source also reported that the three-sentence statement was written way before the Parliamentary motion on the matter was kicked out by ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) super majority in Parliament. MDP Parliamentary Group Leader MP Mohamed Aslam was informed that the Government’s response was written up at 1030hrs on Monday.
The official also reported that the statement was forwarded to the Indian High Commission in the Maldives. Three revisions to the statement followed, with the High Commission contesting to the draft that had condemned the BJP Spokesperson for her statements.
The statement published Monday evening was tepid, at best. The statement condemned any and all defamatory language on the Prophet. It makes no mention of Sharma or her rank in BJP.
‘In this regard the Government of Maldives is deeply concerned by the derogatory remarks made by some officials of BJP, India, insulting the holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and the religion of Islam,’ the statement said.
The three-sentence statement concluded by welcoming the denouncement by the Government of India of the derogatory remarks by the concerned officials and the action taken by BJP against those officials.
While the Government had welcomed BJP, the party’s actions came following Arab nations’ condemnation, boycotts of Indian products, and dismissal of Indian workers in those nations.
While Sharma is suspended, BJP leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Government officials had affirmed their support for Sharma.