INDIA. Telangana: Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh was arrested today for his alleged derogatory comments on Prophet Muhammad following protests in Hyderabad last night demanding action against him.
A case has been registered against Singh under various sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, intentional and malicious acts to outrage the religious sentiments of any class by insulting their religion or religious beliefs and criminal intimidation, among others, the police said. The BJP suspended Mr Singh shortly after his arrest.
According to various reports, protests broke out outside the office of City Police Commissioner CV Anand and other parts of Hyderabad on Monday evening. Many legislators and corporators of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) reached the police stations where protests were held and demanded strict action against T Raja Singh.
“Has it become their official policy that they are not happy with Nupur Sharma and are forcing other MLAs to say things? People are angry. People have tears in their eyes. Why are they saying such things about Prophet Muhammad? We demand that BJP should stop doing all this. People they see how much you hate the Prophet,” AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said.
Singh posted a 10-minute video that allegedly made derogatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad. Taking a look at comedian Munawar Faruqui, whose show he recently unsuccessfully tried to disrupt, he said it was a “comedy” video, just like Faruqui’s alleged videos about Hindu Gods. He asked why the insult of Ram and Sita could be passed off as comedy but not from other figures revered by other communities.
During the arrest, Singh told reporters that his video had been taken down by the social media platform it was uploaded to and that he would upload “part 2” of the clip after his release. “They have removed my video from YouTube. I don’t know what the police will do. Once I am released, the second part (of the video) will be uploaded. I am doing this for Dharma. I am ready to die for Dharma,” he said.
Protesters in Hyderabad said Singh had hurt the sentiments of the community and demanded his immediate arrest.
T Raja Singh, MLA from Goshamahal in the city, tried to disrupt the comedy show last week. He was taken into police custody on Friday when he tried to get to the venue of stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui’s performance along with about 50 supporters to cancel it. The performance then took place in peace.
Singh’s controversial comments come barely months after former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma sparked a massive diplomatic backlash with her remarks about the Prophet. Nupur Sharma has been suspended by the BJP and as many as 10 cases have been filed against her across the country.
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