T Raja Singh, BJP MLA from Telangana, in his latest video.
Hyderabad:
A few hours after releasing a new video about the “general atmosphere”, despite the court’s embargo, Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh was arrested again today. He was released on bail on Tuesday, hours after his arrest, in a case over remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.
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“The police in Telangana are puppets in the hands of Asaduddin Owaisi,” he said in the video shared hours before his arrest. In it, he said supporters of the AIMIM head Owaisi, who is an MP from Hyderabad, “have been free to stone … no FIR, no arrest”. He accused them of targeting places of worship. His reference seems to be protesting his comments about the Prophet Mohammed, this led to his arrest and suspension from the BJP on Tuesday.
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He blamed City Development Minister KT Rama Rao (‘KTR’) – son of Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (‘KCR’) – and Interior Minister Mehmood Ali for “why Telangana was pregnant as vibrant as it is today.” He said KTR was “an atheist who believes in no religion”, Telangana’s party Rashtra Samiti “plays the Muslim vote-banking game” alongside AIMIM’s Owaisi.
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“Let me tell you the reason for the tension in the community in Telangana. There was a stand-up comedian named Munawar Faruqui. Three months ago we canceled his show in Hyderabad with the police support,” Raja Singh said.
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“This comedian then contacted KTR on Twitter… KTR invited him; gave him police protection. I was arrested. Deployed 5,000 police officers, including four. IPS, he hosted the show successfully,” he added. “KTR allowed Munawar Faruqui to joke about our gods… while defeating Ram bhakts outside. “Reference to a airs on August 20.
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“I have asked the DGP, commissioner, that such a comedian should not be allowed to host a show that abuses our gods,” he said. “But KTR’s ego was in the middle… These people play the “voting bank” game. They think the BJP will benefit if the program is canceled. And TRS and AIMIM will benefit if it does. successfully organized.”
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When suspended from the BJP following his arrest on Tuesday, he said, “I will explain to my party that I am not targeting a religion; I am targeting individuals.”
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The BJP said after his arrest that Raja Singh’s views were in stark contrast to the party’s position on the matter. This is the position of the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee, in its notice to the MLA.
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“I risked today to come in front of you,” Raja Singh said in the new video, aware that he was violating the conditions of his bail. “The court has asked me not to be exposed to the media. But the situation forces me to do this today.” He accused “national media channels” of presenting the truth “here and there” (or out of context).
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As for what comes next, he said, “I will legally fight the court battle.” On Tuesday, he was released on bail hours after his arrest, while overnight protests broke out in several parts of the city. Famous for his hardline Hindutva rhetoric, he was accused of hurting religious sentiments and fueling hostility on a number of occasions. It is still unclear under what circumstances he was arrested.
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So far, no individual or party named Raja Singh in this new video has reacted. Munawar Faruqui, from Gujarat, has faced show cancellations, multiple cases and worse – including a month in jail in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh – apparently because of his jokes about religion. religion, politics and other controversial, contemporary issues.
