US State Department spokesperson Ned Price has criticized “offensive” remarks made by members of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party towards the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) (BJP).
On June 5, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and another party leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, made derogatory remarks about the Prophet (PBUH), and following worldwide outrage, the BJP was forced to distance itself from their views and announce disciplinary action against the pair.
Sharma was suspended from the party, and Jindal was expelled.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party drew condemnation from Muslim nations and other nations in response to the remarks, which sparked an international controversy. Muslims rushed to the streets throughout Asia, including India, where protesters were met with repression by the Indian government.
After riots erupted in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh at the beginning of the month, police made at least 300 arrests about the disturbance and demolished the homes of many individuals suspected of participation in the demonstrations.
According to the article, clashes broke out between Muslims and Hindus and, in certain instances, between police and protesters in multiple regions.
A journalist raised the topic of the BJP members’ inflammatory remarks and the ensuing destruction of Muslim homes during Price’s Thursday news briefing.
He questioned the State Department spokeswoman, “Would you like to comment on these hate crimes committed by the Indian government against Muslims and other minorities?”
As a response, Price stated, “Well, we have denounced this. We were pleased to see that the BJP formally rejected the insulting remarks made by two BJP officials.
He said that the United States often engages with senior Indian government officials on human rights issues, including religious freedom, and that “we encourage India to promote respect for human rights.”
The secretary said, “The Indian people and the American people share the same values: human decency, human respect, equal opportunity, and religious freedom. These concepts and ideas are important to every democracy, and we advocate for them globally.
The purchase of Russian oil by India
In the following question, Price was asked if the United States was taking any actions to prevent India and other Asian nations from continuing to purchase oil from Russia in light of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine and the ensuing Western sanctions.
“Despite US pressure, India and other Asian nations are becoming an increasingly significant source of oil revenues for Moscow. Are you currently negotiating with the Indian authorities on this matter, and if so, what are you offering? Can you sell them additional oil that they cannot obtain from Moscow? said the journalist.
Price responded that the United States had held multiple meetings with its Indian allies on the topic and that “the point we have made is that every country will have a unique relationship with Moscow.”
“India’s relationship with Russia is one that grew over decades, and it developed over decades at a period when the United States was not prepared or able to be the Indian government’s preferred partner,” he explained, adding: “That has changed”.
He elaborated by stating, “This is the legacy of a nonpartisan practice that has existed for over two decades. It dates back to the Clinton era and certainly to the George W. Bush administration when the United States wanted a partnership with India and aimed to be India’s preferred partner in the security sphere. Now, this is not a partnership that was formed in days, weeks, or months.
“As previously said, India’s connection with Russia was cultivated over many decades. As countries reorient their relationship with Moscow, as we have seen many of them do, this will be a gradual process,” Price said, adding that the US had made clear to “our Indian partners that we are there for them, that we are ready, able, and willing to partner with them, and that we have done so.”
He stated that the US recently held a 2+2 dialogue with its Indian partners, and that another meeting with Modi was anticipated in the context of I2U2 — a new grouping of four nations consisting of the US, India, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates — “incorporating India into many of the partnerships we have, including the Quad”.
“And this administration has pushed to revitalize this organization at extremely high levels, including four times at the level of leader,” he added.
Relations with Pakistan
Price responded to a second question about the status of relations with the new PML-N-led coalition government in Pakistan by stating that many meetings had taken place with leaders of the new government.
Specifically, he mentioned the meeting between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month in New York.
“Secretary Blinken got the opportunity to meet his Pakistani counterpart face-to-face for the first time in his job. “It was a nice, productive discussion on all subjects, including food security,” Price said, adding that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia was also covered between the two leaders.
He continued, “Pakistan is a partner of ours, and we will want to advance that cooperation in a way that promotes our interests and our mutual interests.”
