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.
Locals present at the programme thrashed Abhishek Yadav before handing him over to the police.
Comments
ye log muslim ko badnaami ke har koi moke nahi chodna chahte
Chakka saala.......narens and virens brother.....both are missing.
This is how these saffron goons attack temples and rape Hindu girls and blame it on muslims.....and some fools to react... they are attacking our nation in disguise......
Hopeless fellows. People Should be punished with this kind of mindse
Ththese kind of people make our countrys strength week. We shd all fight agnest these kind of idiots
HIJDA caught wearing burkha, may be an agenda of RSS
He is an FAH....
First of all this sangh parivar goonda should be punished heavily in such a way that he will do the mischief ever again. Secondly the gathering of muslim in the name of religious duty is not recommended. Allah will definitely punish those who go against Him. Maatam is not recommended in Island. Rather it is recommended to do good things and fast two days. People instead of following it correctly, are practicing unnecessary and unauthorized activities.
Sikandi Baba in action.. haha,.. may be like his leader he is also confused with his gender..
It seems that our Hindu Brother is very much attracted to the Burkha. May Allah bless him with Hidayath.
Whenever such incidents happens the Culprits are caught...
9/11 done by the zionist... daily YT exposes with more proof.
Godse done the same act of disguising as muslim and killing Gandhi but was identified in the same day.
Here one more cheddi got caught...
I now Wonder, if all the bomb blast were done by this same ENEMIES who change their identity to spread corruption in the land to keep the masses in fear.....and rule those who are unaware of the CREATOR of all that exists
When caught, they will definitely say he is mentally ill ..... This is the nature of those who worship the devils.
I feel pity on those hindus who still fall trap to these DECEIVERS..
It is not surprise. Sangha Pariwar is always doing these kinds of anti-human act.
There may be VHP/ ABVP protest in Mangalore over beating their brother.
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