Prophet Mohammad remark row: This issue was not raised by Iranian FM, says MEA

New Delhi: Facing widespread anger in the Arab countries over the controversial comments on Prophet Mohammad, India on Thursday said that it has made it clear that the controversial ''remarks do not reflect the views of the government.'' "We have made it pretty clear that tweets and comments do not reflect views of government," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

"This has been conveyed to our interlocutors as also the fact that action has been taken by the concerned quarters against those who made the comments and tweets. I really do not have anything additional to say on this," he said.

Asked about the claim in an Iranian readout that said that after Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian raised the issue of controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad with NSA Ajit Doval on Wednesday, Bagchi said that offenders will be dealt with in such a way that others will learn a lesson, Bagchi said: "My understanding is that what you are referring to in a readout has been pulled down."

"My understanding is that this issue wasn't raised,'' MEA spokesperson said while responding to a question if the row over Prophet remarks figured in talks between S Jaishankar and visiting Iranian foreign minister. He was responding to a flurry of questions on the issue.

It emerged earlier that Iran is ''satisfied with the Indian government’s stance in connection with the incident.'' “Iran is satisfied with the efforts made by the Indian government in dealing with those responsible for derogatory comments on Prophet Muhammad,’’ the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said, according to news agency ANI.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement in which it said that Abdollahian had raised the issue with Doval, and was satisfied by the response he received. The Iranian Foreign Minister also called for serious attention to the sensitivities of Muslims regarding their religious sanctities.

Nupur Sharma, a Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, was suspended on Sunday from the party’s primary membership after her alleged inflammatory remarks against minorities, which drew sharp reactions from Gulf countries.