US condemns BJP ex-spokesperson over Prophet remarks

The US has condemned the remarks by the now suspended BJP spokespersons on the Prophet Mohammed.

"We condemn the offensive comments made by two BJP officials and we were glad to see that the party publicly condemns those comments," state department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington on Thursday.

"We regularly engage with the Indian government at senior levels on human rights concerns including freedom of religion or belief and we encourage India to promote respect for human rights," he said.


Price also commented on India-Russia relations and India's ties with the US. "We have had a number of discussions with our Indian partners, and the point that we have made is that every country is going to have a different relationship with Moscow," Price told reporters.

He said India's relationship with Russia developed over several decades. "It developed over the course of decades at a time when the United States was not prepared or able to be a partner of choice for the Indian government," he said.