May 1: India on Thursday called as "propaganda" certain social media posts from the Arab world alleging harassment of Muslims in several parts of the country in the name of containing the spread of coronavirus.
Strongly rebutting the charges, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the Gulf countries are deeply committed to friendly relations with India and they are even seeking bilateral talks on the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
Talking about India's close and traditional ties with the Arab countries, he said New Delhi is ensuring uninterrupted supply of food and essential commodities to the region during Ramzan as part of its deep-rooted friendship.
Srivastava said the countries in the region do not support any interference in India's internal affairs.
"Much of what you see is propaganda by interested parties. Stray tweets can not be used to characterise our bilateral ties with these countries. The real picture of these relations is very much different," he said during an online media briefing.
There has been a wave of angry reactions on Twitter by leading citizens and rights activists from various Arab countries following allegations that Muslims are being blamed for spreading COVID-19 in several parts of India.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a powerful bloc of 57 countries, recently accused India of "Islamophobia". India rejected the charges as regrettable.
"We have been making special efforts to ensure uninterrupted supply of food and essential commodities which are required during the Ramzan period in these countries, and this is something which has been greatly appreciated. These countries also want a priority discussion with India on the post-COVID-19 economic recovery," Srivastava said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have been in regular touch with their counterparts from the region in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
"In these discussions, there have been requests for sending medicines and medical teams to these countries. We already deployed a Rapid Response Team in Kuwait. There is also a request to send doctors and nurses from India," said Srivastava.
"What comes out clearly is that these countries are deeply committed to friendly relations with India. They also do not support any interference in internal matters of India. It is, therefore, important that the friendly and cooperative nature of our relations is accurately recognised and the misuse of social media is not given credence," he added.
Asked about reports of an order issued by Oman's Finance Ministry asking all state-owned companies to replace foreign workers with qualified local Omanis, Srivastava said it is not aimed at Indians working in the Gulf nation.
"The policy is a decades-old one and not specific to India. It does not target the Indians in any way," he said.
There have been apprehensions that the order will render thousands of Indians working in state-run firms in Oman jobless.
"They greatly value relationship with India. Government of Oman is taking special care of Indians which included free testing for coronavirus, its treatment, providing food," the MEA spokesperson said.
Oman government is also extending certain categories of visas of Indians.
Srivastava said India has been in touch with its friends and partners across the world as part of the collaborative approach to dealing with the pandemic.
Taluk Panchayat member Fauziya and her husband were not present in the house when the attack took place at around 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Comments
Kill them whenever they enter your home, there is no punishment for self defense... Judiciary is permit you to kill any person or group if they enter your home forcefully...next time don't give them a chance to escape alive...
BJP has lost its civic sense,how can they rule the country? if they cannot respect senior citizens. Intolerance has reached its peak amongst BJP. Curse of these senior citizens will lead them to their dooms day in sha Allah.They should not forget that human is mortal
BJP is a sore loser
Where is Ibraheem Hussain Udupi
Where is CongRSS ? are Siddanna,Paramesh appa, rammnna ?
COWARDS Since the time of BRITIISH, Either supporting the british against indian independence or attack cowardly 100 X 1 or 3
Animal is animal (do they ask people to worship them or use it to celebration)
Please publish news about BJP MP Statement
Terrorism will not destroy without ending Islam
Let people come to know about elected candidate work progress
Guys election is over, accept the reality and work together for the betterment of poor and downtrodden people. But police do their job and nab those who are responsible for attacking old age persons and destroying their properties....this is really bad...
Really very much condemnable, but how much you reported that , we Hindustanis non believable movement attacking the Woman, totally Criminalizes, Goonda act non bail Black Prison Inside, These BJP,RSS Criminal Goondas so far not attacked women their Plan only make Problem for Looting, the biggest Looters, Thieves are BJP/RSS Goondas and Criminals, looks like now in Karnataka in Siddannas Government they can not do their Criminalize, path were these Criminals ruling.
\\"but one thing Every Dog has its own Day Anna\"
Jia Hindustan."
Acche din
This is a time to ban BJP/RSS terrorist group and kicking them out of the country
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