Highlights
- An FIR was registered against Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh
- He allegedly made blasphemous remarks against Prophet Mohammad hurting sentiments.
- In several areas across Telangana, public protested against Singh and demanded his arrest.
BJP MLA Prophet remark: Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh was arrested on Tuesday after an FIR was filed against him by the Hyderabad South Zone Police this morning for his alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Mohammad. Singh is an MLA from Goshamahal, and several protests broke out against him for his alleged remarks in his recently uploaded video.
The angry public came out in large numbers and was seen protesting at Dabeerpura, Bhavaninagar, Reinbazar and Mirchowk police stations. They protested against Singh for hurting the sentiments of a community and demanded his immediate arrest.
Since scores of people took to the streets demanding action against T Raja Singh, an FIR was registered against him at the Dabeerpura Police Station under sections 153a, 295, and 505 of the IPC.
Police detain Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar
Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar was on Tuesday detained by the Telangana Police in Jangaon district. He had held a protest Dharma Deeksha against the arrest of BJP workers in Hyderabad who allegedly attacked MLC Kavitha's residence on Monday. Meanwhile, Hyderabad police have increased the security and have deployed forces out of the Hyderabad police commissioner's office. Police have also increased security in parts of the city.
Raja Singh's previous controversy involving comedian Munawar Faruqui
Earlier on August 19, Raja Singh and 4 others were taken into protective custody ahead of comedian Munawar Faruqui's show in Hyderabad. Last week, Singh had threatened to attack the comedian and also burn down the venue if the Telangana government, ruled by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, allowed Faruqui to perform in the city.
In a video message that was shared widely on social media, the BJP lawmaker said the comedian had cracked jokes on Hindu gods and should not be permitted to perform in Hyderabad.
“Let them see what will happen if he is invited to stage a show in Hyderabad. Wherever the programme is held, we shall beat him up. Whoever offers him a venue, we shall set it afire,” Singh said in the video.
The comedian was originally supposed to perform in the Telangana capital on January 9, but the show was cancelled due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the southern state. Even then, the Telangana BJP said it will not allow Faruqui to perform.
Last year in December, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's son and state IT minister KT Rama Rao gave an “open invite” to comedians like Faruqui and Kunal Kamra, who often draws the wrath of right-wing groups.
