A section of activists and experts on Monday questioned the "silence"' of Muslim nations on China's treatment of minorities and alleged violation of human rights there after some of these countries lodged a protest with India over the remarks of two BJP functionaries on Prophet Mohammad.
The row over the alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad escalated on Sunday with protests from countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran, prompting the BJP to take action against its functionaries and assert that it respects all religions.
But after the reaction of the Islamic countries, questions are being asked in some quarters on whether these nations will raise similar objections against China, which has been accused by many human rights groups of targeting Muslims and other minorities.
Bejing has been denying these allegations.
Brahma Chellaney, Professor Emeritus of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), said, "Some Muslim states that have been mute on China's assault on Islam, including incarcerating over a million Muslims and confiscating Korans, have played up the anti-Muslim remarks of two Indians now expelled from the ruling party.
"Is it because they perceive India as a soft state?"
Kasturi Shankar, an activist and lawyer, also took to Twitter echoing similar sentiments.
"Nations that claim to stand for the sentiments of the world's two billion Muslims do nothing for Muslims in Afghanistan, Syria, China or Burma.
"We can do nothing against ISIS or China or Taliban, so let's pick on a lone woman in a TV debate instead," Shankar said.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP member Balbir Punj took to Twitter saying, "World knows how China treats its minorities- specifically Muslims & Tibetan Buddhists. China violates all human rights, international conventions while dealing with Islam & Muslims in Xinjiang. None in the world even squeaks about it. Why? Why? (sic)".
He alleged that the Congress, the communists and "jihadis" were celebrating as their "'relentless campaign on manufactured intolerance against Modi & India has worked for now".
"'We have to work harder to expose the real character of this lot & neutralise them to save plural India," he said.