Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh was on Tuesday arrested for his alleged derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad following protests in Hyderabad last night demanding action against him. Earlier, BJP had suspended the MLA. The suspension has triggered huge disappointment to hard core Hindutva supporters.
According to the police, a case was registered against Singh under various sections of the IPC related 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.
According to various reports, protests broke out in front of city Police Commissioner CV Anand’s office and other parts of Hyderabad on Monday night. Members, MLAs and corporators of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) gathered at police stations. They sought arrest of T Raja Singh.
The chief of Islamist outfit Asaduddin Owaisi said, “Has it become their official policy that they aren’t satisfied with Nupur Sharma and they are making other MLAs say things? People are angry. People have tears in their eyes. Why are they saying things like this about Prophet Muhammad? Our demand is that the BJP should stop doing all this. People can see how much you hate the Prophet.”
Shri Singh had released a 10-minute video allegedly making derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad. Taking a swipe at comedian Munawar Faruqui, whose show he unsuccessfully tried to disrupt recently, he said it was a “comedy” video just like Mr Faruqui’s alleged videos on Hindu gods. He asked why the insult of Ram and Sita could pass off as comedy but not of other figures revered by other communities.
During the arrest, Mr Singh told reporters that his video was pulled down by the social media platform on which it was uploaded and that he will upload “part 2” of the clip after his release. “They removed my video from YouTube. I don’t know what the police are going to do. Once I am released second part (of the video) will certainly be uploaded. I am doing it for Dharma. I am ready to die for Dharma,” he said.
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