The ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) on Sunday, 5th June suspend its leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal from the party’s membership for passing derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam religion.
This development came after Nupur’s hateful remark that she made during a television interview on June 1 while Jindal was slammed on social media over his tweet referring to the Prophet on the same day.
This remarks irked Muslims living in the country and the rest of the world. Also, the party faces strong criticism from the leaders of opposition parties and many Bollywood celebs.
After seeing the nationwide rage over the current scenario, the ruling party also cleared its stance today on a statement. It distanced itself from the two members, asserting that it respects all religions and is strongly against any ideology that insults or demean any sect or religion.
After her suspension of her membership from the party, Nupur Sharma took to Twitter and issued an apology regarding her statement on the Prophet during a recent TV debate. She said that her intention was not to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments and she is unconditionally withdrawing her statement.
Congratulations @navikakumar#TimesNow Hope u lot r enjoying the international embarrassment you’ve caused India today due to ur irresponsible rabble rousing! Your fave people have eaten crow in front of the World today & India has partaken of the shame.. Well done! #nupursharmahttps://t.co/lKBwbqPil4
There is no bravery in deriding and insulting the faith of minorities in India when you are the majority and have your government ruling. So please let’s stop making crass, abusive bigots into heroes. They are simply hate mongers.
Many Islamic Countries including Qatar, Kuwait and Iran slammed India over the remark and summoned Indian envoys in their respective countries. The controversial remark also sparked a Twitter trend in the Arab world calling for a boycott of Indian products.
Celebrated singer Britney Spears made Desi followers blissful when she shared an Instagram reel of a button dosa preparation made by an influencer. The video had the favored music Pasoori within the background. Followers have been overjoyed to see the put up and flooded the video with feedback, saying that it was ‘satisfying to observe’. The music Pasoori has been sung by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill.
Zulfiqar Jabbar a.k.a Xulfi expressed his gratitude on the transnational popularity of his song as he is heading the coke studio 14 this year.
Indian Comedian Varun Grover took to Instagram and shared the video on his Tales with the caption, “Britney Spears making Button dosa to the music of Pasoori is the type of international citizen liberals need.”
Transnational stars have reacted to the video in which a Muslim student, Muskan Khan, wearing a burqa was surrounded by Hindutva mob on Tuesday within her college premises.
In a video, it can be seen that the mob with saffron shawls are shouting at her, chanting “Jai Shri Raam”. Khan fearlessly retaliated by shouting back “Allah Hu Akbar” (God is Great).
In the midst of the chaos in the Hijab row, several Indian celebrities have weighed in their opinion too. Here’s what filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, actress Richa Chadha, comedian Munawar Faruqui, actor-politician Kamal Haasan, actress Swara Bhasker and filmmaker Onir said.
I have never been in favour of Hijab or Burqa. I still stand by that but at the same time I have nothing but deep contempt for these mobs of hooligans who are trying to intimidate a small group of girls and that too unsuccessfully. Is this their idea of “MANLINESS” . What a pity
The cops appear at the end of this video and the stone pelting lot scramble in the opposite direction! Run rabbit run! What a cowardly,misguided bunch! https://t.co/BP7QLbaXST
(1/3) I grew up in the Middle East. It was common for a lot of my fellow students to wear a hijab with their uniform. The varied cultural practices that kids from different countries brought to school, made my childhood richer. The freedom to express one’s identity is sacred.
(2/3) Clearly it’s political & there is a lot of fear and scared parents and children but why aren’t more of you standing up for them? Also, why is policing always ominpresent when it comes to what women wear? Why is the brunt always on a particular gender?
Kamal Haasan said that the event is sparking unrest in the country.
“A religious poison wall is being erected among the students who are not lying. What is happening in the neighbouring state beyond the single wall should not come to Tamil Nadu. It is time for the progressive forces to be more careful (sic),” he wrote.
கர்நாடகாவில் நடப்பது கலக்கத்தைத் தூண்டுகிறது. கள்ளமில்லா மாணவர்கள் மத்தியில் மதவாத விஷச் சுவர் எழுப்பப்படுகிறது. ஒற்றைச் சுவர் தாண்டியிருக்கும் பக்கத்து மாநிலத்தில் நடப்பது தமிழ்நாட்டுக்கும் வந்துவிடக் கூடாது. முற்போக்கு சக்திகள் மேலும் கவனமாக இருக்க வேண்டிய காலம் இது.
Divided We Fall .. That is what these RSS goons wants . Weaken us from within … this won’t be easy to heal . Wake up people .. STOP THIS VIRUS NOW https://t.co/DmZsDkDB9O
Pakistani star Feroze Khan took to his Instagram stories while sharing the video, he wrote that this is how a lioness looks like.
Indian actor and Bigg Boss finalist Aly Goni also condemned the mob.
Kiran Tabier also appreciated the girl for her courage.
Pakistani politicians and journalists have expressed their concern and called out Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s fascist government amid the hijab ban in the Indian state Karnataka.
The backlash on Modi is coming after a Muslim student, Muskan Khan, wearing a burqa was surrounded by Hindutva mob on Tuesday within her college premises.
In a video, it can be seen that the mob with saffron shawls are shouting at her, chanting “Jai Shri Raam”. Khan fearlessly retaliated by shouting back “Allah Hu Akbar” (God is Great).
In an interview with NDTV, Khan said, “Since I started studying here, I’ve always worn the burqa and hijab.” Asked if she knew the men who bullied and harassed her, Khan responded, “Some were familiar faces from the college. Others I couldn’t recognise. My college principal and lecturers were very supportive after the incident took place.”
Reacting to her video, Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi strongly condemned the banning of Hijab at educational institutions in India. He said, “World must realise this is part of Indian state plan of ghettoisation of Muslims.”
He has also urged Indian Muslims to stand up for their rights in the neighbouring country, reportsRadio Pakistan.
Praising Muskan Khan for her courage, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif said, “A young Muslim Indian girl is a symbol of resistance against the Hindutva mindset.”
The controversy over the Hijab row in Karnataka began on Jan 1, 2022 when Muslim girl students of state-run PU College in Karnataka’s Udupi alleged that they were denied entry into the college for wearing Hijab. Principal Rudra Gowda said that the rule was being followed to ensure uniformity in classrooms.
Thereafter, many girls protested wearing saffron scarves saying that if hijab was allowed inside, then saffron scarves should be worn too. Allegations also emerged that Hindu groups were forcing boys to wear saffron shawls.
Photographs of more than 100 Muslim women were displayed on an application known as “Bulli Bai” where women were posted as the auction of the day, reports Al Jazeera.
The pictures were uploaded on an app for “sale” without their permission. The list included Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and award-winning Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi.
Following the news, several Bollywood celebrities have come forward to express their anger.
Actor and activist Swara Bhaskar, in a tweet, said, “At that point where we’ve to remind ourselves that it’s not okay to sell Muslim women online! Remind ourselves that it’s not kosher to rally & call for genocide! That it’s not okay to disrupt people’s prayers. This is happening in our name, in the name of our Gods. It’s on us!”
At that point where we’ve to remind ourselves that it’s not okay to SELL MUSLIM WOMEN ONLINE! Remind ourselves that it’s not kosher to rally & call for genocide! That it’s not okay to disrupt people’s prayers. This is happening in our name, in the name of our Gods. It’s on us!
Dozens of Muslim women began posting their shock and outrage on social media after seeing their photographs and details on the app. The app was taken down on Saturday.
Indian actress, Swara Bhasker took to Twitter to share her views on the tragic mob lynching incident of the Sri Lankan national in Sialkot over alleged blasphemy charges.
She tweeted, “Absolutely sickening and gut-wrenching the madness, brutality, and monstrosity humans unleash in the name of Gods and religion. Horrendous!”
Absolutely sickening and gut wrenching the madness, brutality and monstrosity humans unleash in the name of Gods and religion.. HORRENDOUS ! #Sialkothttps://t.co/VgkmDKKZeo
Swara Bhasker is also working as an activist who raises her voice against Hindu extremists’ atrocities on minorities and lower castes.
Priyantha Diyawadana, a Sri Lankan national was working as a manager since 2010 in a factory located at Sialkot. He allegedly tore posters off a wall in the factory, which had religious text written on it. After taking down the poster, hundreds of people gathered, dragged him outside, killed him, and then burnt his body on Friday.
In the video shared on social media, it can be seen that the man’s body was burnt publicly after he was murdered.
Several Pakistani celebrities including Mahira Khan, Ayesha Omar, and Saba Qamar also expressed their grief and condemned the mob lynching incident on their social media.
Actress Sidra Batool bagged the ‘Best Actress’ nomination for her performance in Hum TV’s Ishq Humari Galliyon Mein in 2014.
The Umeed diva revealed in an exclusive conversation with The Current that after seeing her work in Pakistani dramas on Indian channel Zee Zindagi, she was approached by mainstream directors for leading roles in A-list Bollywood movies.
She confessed that she regrets turning down the character of Datto in Anand L Rai’s Tanu Weds Manu Returns opposite R Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut. The role required her a language course of three months apart from physical training since the character was of a Haryanvi athlete. Sidra was later replaced by Kangana who already had a role in the film.
Sidra elaborated that her mother didn’t allow her to work in a Bollywood film. The film became a huge blockbuster at won several awards.
Sidra concluded the interview by saying that her mother has promised her that she’ll allow her to take up a film offer in the future, especially if its a sequel of Tanu Weds Manu Returns.
