Hate speeches: Why should India apologize for BJP bigots? KTR asks PM

Hyderabad: Minister KTR on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why India as a nation should apologize for the hate speeches made by BJP bigots. The minister's comments come in the wake of India receiving widespread anger from Arab countries on Sunday over the controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad by BJP functionaries Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal in a TV channel debate and on Twitter respectively.

Some of the Arab countries including Qatar and Kuwait also sought an apology and condemnation from the Indian government over the remarks against the Prophet.

"PM Narendra Modi, why should India as a country apologize to the international community for the hate speeches of BJP bigots? It is the BJP that should apologize; not India as a nation. Your party should first apologize to Indians at home for spewing and spreading hatred," KTR tweeted.

KTR said PM's silence was deafening and shocking when BJP MP Pragya Singh hailed the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. "Let me remind you, sir, what you permit is what you promote. The tacit support from the top is what emboldened the bigotry and hatred that will cause irreparable loss to India," he said.

The BJP on Sunday had suspended spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal from the party's membership over their remarks against Prophet Mohammad.

" Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions. The BJP strongly denounces insults of any religious personalities of any religion," said BJP in its statement after suspending the two leaders.

KTR was quick to retort and ask: "If the BJP truly respects all religions equally, should you also not suspend the Telangana BJP chief who made an open public statement wanting to dig up all the mosques & impose a ban on Urdu? Why this selective treatment JPNadda Ji? Any clarification?"