IndiaNewsNRIOpinionPoliticsWorld

PM Modi’s visit to UAE may be plagued by Prophet Controversy


You are already Here! Don’t leave without Like, Share, Commenting, or Tweet…be the Voice of the Free Press!!

 

Edited by Adam Rizvi, 25 June 2022, TIO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United Arab Emirates on June 28 while returning from Germany where he will represent India at the G7 summit during June 26-27.

His visit to the UAE is aimed at conveying condolences on the passing away of the President of UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on May 13.

However, the recent controversy in India over the comments of a BJP office-bearer about the life of the Prophet of Islam is going to travel with the Indian Prime Minister.

 Analysts view the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Arab Emirates to be a damage control exercise for the foul mouth BJP functionary.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: Permanent Conflict Toward Hindu Rashtra Or Peaceful Dialogue For Hindustan?

Analysts’ opinion that the visit of the Indian Prime Minister is to assure the UAE rulers that his government‘s domestic political consideration will not spill over to the international arena and will not denigrate the religious faith of the UAE rulers.

The UAE had joined Qatar and other Gulf countries in condemning the remarks by BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Navin Kumar Jindal who made indecent remarks about the Prophet of Islam in an effort to browbeat Indian Muslims and were offensive to the believers’ Islamic faith residing in 57 countries, where they are in majority.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: Converting from Hinduism to any other religion is not an option in India!

The comments by the BJP office-bearer were broadcast on national TV and on social media and were provocative to the core. It was out and out blasphemous in nature and drew widespread outrage in the Arab and Islamic world. In the Gulf countries, the outrage was amplified by the public opinion expressed online and the heads of many states took objection to the words that willy-nilly had the backing of the government in power.

In recent times, India’s Ministry of External Affairs is often found to be in a combative mood when questions are raised on Muslim persecution in India in the Arab world. India’s MEA has hauled the 57 countries Organization of Islamic Countries to mind its business and does not raise the issue of Muslim religious persecution going on in India.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: Groom Arrested! Hindutva is engulfing Little Traditions of India.

However, the MEA India changed colors, when Arab nations started talking about the foul-mouth utterances of the BJP functionary about their religious fountainhead.  When some Arab countries started talking about boycotting the Indian goods and throwing Indians from their country, the MEA became a chameleon and changed colors.  It came out with the statement that New Delhi has dealt with the Prophet issue and “adequate” action has been taken against those who uttered bad words.

Off the cough, to quote India’s former foreign Secretary late AP Venkateswaran, “MEA has two mouths, one from the front and other from the back. It uses the two as a matter of convenience.” Well, one has revisited his episode to understand the context in which he was talking but suffice it to tell how position changes when it comes brass tacks.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: Champions of RSS, VHP Hindutva  Re-invent Themselves as Champions of Asian Americans in the US 

  The UAE is very important to India for its energy requirement and is one of the major suppliers of oil to India. UAE is also important from the point of view of the large number of Indian expatriates working there sending pots of money that pump the Indian economy.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: The Kashmir Files – Bloodied and Gory, Sold out to RSS/BJP Agenda

While there is open persecution of the Indian Muslims going on in India day in and day out the BJP stalwarts are hurling slurs at Indian and in a fit of such moments they forgot the difference between Indian Muslims and Islam. Knowingly, the Gyaanwapi mosque issue was combated by spitting venom about the Prophet of Islam without understanding that their words tested the nerves of the entire global community and how domestic politics can disturb the international forces.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: Mis-information Campaign by Hindutva Forces in India and the US 

India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra has done some cooling down business saying that the UAE leaders will not discuss this matter with the Indian Prime Minister.

“As far as Prophet Controversy is concerned, almost all the Gulf countries have been convinced this will not be repeated again and this issue will not be taken forward in the bilateral meetings. The UAE’s reaction to the remarks on Prophet was measured, and it, like Saudi Arabia, did not summon an Indian envoy to raise concerns, unlike Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran,” he added.

The UAE has emerged as India’s closest partner in the Gulf. It is the only country from the region to sign an FTA (free trade agreement) with India so far. The FTA is to focus on several areas from defense to investments to space to energy deals.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: Muslims Protest against Fascist Modi Regime in USA and Canada

The UAE is the second-largest export destination of India after the US. Exports to the country stood at over $30 billion in 2018-19. For UAE, India was the second-largest trading partner in 2018 with $36 billion in non-oil trade. The UAE and India are also part of the West Asian Quad that also comprises the USA and Israel.

High-level visits between India and UAE have been taking place routinely. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares excellent chemistry with UAE President Md Bin Zayed. He is expected to travel again later this year to visit India Pavilion at Dubai Expo.

Also Read, Tweet, Share: Chennai protest: Muslims in the communal violence-hit Jahangirpuri, Delhi

——–


Syed Ali Mujtaba

Syed Ali Mujtaba

Syed Ali Mujtaba is a Sr.Journalist, Author based in Chennai, India. Writes frequently for the USA based News Portal, TheIndiaObserver. He is author of the book Soundings on South Asia, New Dawn Press (2005). He can be reached at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com or TIO, at Mediaiss@Gmail.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *