The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday suspended party spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal from the party’s primary membership over controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate.

Party national general secretary and HQ in-charge Arun Singh said in a statement that the party respects all religions and is against any ideology that insults or demeans any sect or religion.

“During the thousands of years of the history of India, every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions. The BJP strongly denounces insults of any religion. personalities of any religion. The Bharatiya Janata Party is also strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion. The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy,” Singh said in the statement.

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The party said that Jindal, who heads its Delhi media, has shared his views on social media that vitiate communal harmony and are in violation of the party’s fundamental beliefs.

“As India celebrates 75th year of its Independence, we are committed to making India a great country where all are equal and everyone lives with dignity, where all are committed to India’s unity and integrity, where all enjoy the fruits of growth and development,” Singh added in his statement.

An FIR was filed against Sharma for allegedly injuring religious sensibilities with her statements on Prophet Muhammad. A similar case was registered against her by the Mumbai Police recently.

During the TV debate, which aired on Friday, Sharma lost her cool during the discussion that was on the ongoing Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath issue. She faced immediate condemnation. 

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Earlier this week, riots erupted in Kanpur in response to Sharma’s statements, injuring at least seven persons and causing property damage. She has denied any wrongdoing and claims to have received death threats.