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.
Comments
Dr Zakir naik' s naik controversy is bound to happen due to his increasing popularity around the world for spreading peace. Our hypocrite politicians and news channels and their blatant liars like Arnab goswamy do not want peace makers in the society as it wont help them to accomplish their agenda. Dr Zakir naik never breaks any law of the land and always preached the truth.. Quran is the only religious book which specifically and strongly condems killings of innocent people. Dr Naik will have the help of Allah no matter how hard the media tries to malign his name. May Allah be with you Dr Zakir bhai and all Muslims. Ameen.
Bopanna, if you are real hindu, and against these muslims, how you can work in muslim country? By working there you are helping these People. So resign immediately and come back to india. Let us see your real Hinduism. For the money you will do everything this is the fact. If you don't resign then don't blame them. Instead accept their religion and live with them.
Mr.Bopanna.... please be careful on what you comment.. know the facts and provide sources before spitting out sensitive words...
Islam exists for more than 1400 years and terrorists less than 50 yearsss, if Holy Quran teaches to kill Kuffars as you say then I am surprised that not 1% of the world's killings is done by Islam....
There are more than 2 billion muslims in the world and is 30% of the worlds population.... if we all muslims become terrorists then jerks like you would have vanished in minutes... but no, our religion doesn't teach that.... no where we are thought in Quran to kill kafirs or non muslims than helping them....
IF ISIS, daesh or any terrorists organisation u label them as muslims, then u are ignorant, illiterate and an idiot.... can u not see the recent blast in baghdad killed more than 220 muslims, turkey more than 40, Ksa recently.... how an earth a terrorist can kill muslims if his target is kuffars....are the terrorists idiots enough to make out the difference is religion....Terrorists has no religion and ISIS,Daes or any group of idiots are not a part of our holy religion which promotes peace....not killings
Non muslims are just scared of ZN coz of the conversion ratios of non muslims into Islam....I doubt any of his videos have thought or inspired any one to become a terrorists... none of them I have seen... If he is then I will never be his supporter but if he is not then please dont comment unnecessary things in social media.... without a valid source....
Surprisingly u seems to be a reisdent of KSA.... how on earth with somuch hatredness within yourself can work in a muslim country abiding all muslim laws... and enjoy the incomes of muslim ruled companies, Money changed ur mind and developed tolerance with u... lol...
Brothers... dont blindly believe media as most of the storie are fabricated.. there is story behind what media portrays... Islam is never a religion of killing but a religion which promotes peace and condemns killing....
i strongly beleave this game is being played by sri sri ravi shanker... he was bashed black and blue(exposed) by dr zakir some years back in frount of a very larg croud and whole world came to no about his truth that he is nothing but just a fake god man.... am very sure when dr zakir nayaks isseue goes to the cort he will come clean.... its just that people cant defeate his through debates so they r using all other means to defame him... sri sri if u r a man (whuch i dought) defeate him by debating him not like this.....
All critics of ZN should watch his video preach.
They should compare these with other hate mongers speech can realize who is who?
Asatyameva Jayate, yes you are a terrorist no doubt. All Muslims are terrorists since they abide by the Koran - which asks to kill all Kuffars. Koran shuld be banned and all Muslims Jailed
Every Hindu or Muslim once took a oath in school......... every Indians are my brothers and sisters..... if one of them become terrorist can we arrest the whole nation as their relatives.....ha ha.....
If a rapist or a terrorist is inspired by any god book religion or any person are you going to ban or arrest them all......joke hai yaar.............
I am inspired by dr. Zakir Naik and also some good words from some Hindu purohits. Am I going to be a terrorist???
Indresh Kumar's Sufism more active in Bangladesh....!
Does India ever taken against Indresh Kumar who accused in Samjoutha Express and Pakistan asks us to take action against him? Why much eagerness in what Bangladesh's baseless demand?
Those who can't face ZN on talk or debate, obviously they go for backdoor to defame ZN. Modi's popularity going down in day by day and also UP elections ahead, so this 'inspire' story has more depth to divert people's attention. RSS pracharak and terror accused Indresh kumar founded modern Sufism and using the same Sufism against Islam. US did the same in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan to destroy Islam by 'Muslims'. Muslims are scapegoat of divide and rule either by western country or India.
Some so called our scholars also knowingly or unknowingly victim of Sufism to defame Islam and against ZN.
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