Hyderabad: BJP has suspended its Telangana MLA T Raja Singh hours after the politician was arrested for making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Earlier in the day, Hyderabad Police arrested the politician for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
At first, it was now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma who made similar comments triggering global outcry as many gulf counties criticized Sharma’s comments and her party ideology.
Singh’s arrest came after several Muslim organisations staged protests across various police stations in the city on Monday late night demanding his arrest while accusing him of insulting the Prophet (ﷺ) and hurting religious sentiments, Indian Express has reported.Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Police on Tuesday arrested Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), The Wire report said.
Earlier, it was now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma who made similar comments triggering global outcry as many gulf counties criticized Sharma’s comments and her party ideology.
Singh’s arrest came after several Muslim organisations staged protests across various police stations in the city on Monday late night demanding his arrest while accusing him of insulting the Prophet (ﷺ) and hurting religious sentiments, Indian Express has reported.
On Monday, the BJP MLA released a video criticizing stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, who recently performed in the city. Before the comedian’s arrival, Singh had been taken into preventive custody on Friday, August 20, when he attempted to disrupt Faruqui’s show in the city, which later went off peacefully.
The video in question was released around 10 pm on Monday, resulting in protests across various police stations to condemn the remarks of the two-time BJP MLA. A first information report (FIR) was registered at Dabeerpura Police Station on Tuesday as protests still continue, The Wire reported.
“This is the first video where I have spoken like this. What is the reason? Because one person hurled abuses at my Lord Ram and Sita Mata. He did comedy on my gods and today, without any other option left, I am doing comedy on your mother. This is my anguish,” Singh had said in the video.
We have received several complaints. MLA Raja Singh has been apprehended. We will update you about the arrest as well as the sections soon,” Indian Express quoted Joel Davis, DCP (Hyderabad West Zone Police) as saying.
In his defence, Singh on Tuesday said, “I do not understand on what basis the police registered the FIR because I did not take the name of any particular community. My video was aimed at Faruqui and I stand by my words, and I did not hurt anyone’s sentiments. This was the first part of the video, there will be a second video too.”
Several people belonging to community staged protests in various parts of the city on Monday night demanding Singh’s arrest.
Many All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) legislators and corporators of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation reached the police stations, where protests were held and sought stringent action against Raja Singh, PTI reported citing party sources.
An FIR was booked against Singh under various sections of IPC pertaining to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs and criminal intimidation among others.
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