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.
He has been given time till tomorrow morning to file his reply as to why no action should be taken against him.
Comments
Its all about vote bank politics. In fact these pakhandi babas are rapists and believe in homosexuality Those who justify this dhongi baba are indeed knew or pretend to be blind on the fact that many non muslims producing illegal children from extra marital affairs.
Please don't call him such people as Maharaj,
Maharaj is a sacred word. He talks like a drunken man.
He does not deserve for it.
If daring why does he refer indirect. He cant say as Muslims.
The man himself did not marry and expecting his followers to make 40 children.
We have in India many Hindu friends like brothers and sisters.
These people create intolerance amongst peace lovers.
very unfortunate these coward senseless are elected as MPs.
It shows what is the mind-level of those who elected Him.
This is the strategy of BJP to field such a hate mongers to divide the country. They deserve stringent punishment for spoiling public harmony.
Why propaganda , if hindus fear , they are become minority , let these swamies to marry at least one girl and produce children as many as possible , if they capable.... as more official survey non muslims are have more than one wife than muslims..... let the govt to publish 2011 religious wise survey report...!
These swamis are drunkards....they say whatever they feel like...disgusting....must be eliminated from this earth....it will bring peace and tranquility to everyone....
Muslims have the the power and guts to do that in reality. Not like Sakshi Maharaj who afraid to get marry in his life.
What will be the end result if he is found guilty .... He should be kicked out/ Booted out from the Loksabaha...
Let him show a single person with 4 wives and 40 children.... No doubt he is expert in Ramayana and Mahabharatha stories ....
I appreciate EC action. EC should recommend removal of this hate monger and should not allow for further election. I wil appreciate if EC removes voting right of this hate monger. I agree with statement of this hate monger that money from cow slaughter is used for terrorist act. It is well known that beef exporters are bjp sympathizers and huge amount of money is given by these beef exporters to sangh parivar which is being used in terrorist acts. I think this hate monger is also getting a share.
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