BJP suspends Telangana MLA Raja Singh over controversial comments on Prophet

Hyderabad, Aug 23: Hours after his arrest over controversial comments on Prophet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday suspended its Telangana MLA T Raja Singh.

The saffron party has issued show-cause notice to Raja Singh and asked him to explain why should he not be expelled from the party.

BJP leader Raja Singh was arrested on Tuesday for his alleged controversial remarks against a particular religion.

On Monday, the BJP MLA released a video criticising stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, who recently performed in the city. Singh is also purportedly seen making some comments against the religion in it.

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, party sources said.

According to police, complaints were filed against Singh in several police stations under South, East and West Zones. Dabeerpur Police Inspector G Koteswar Raos said they received a complaint against Singh, which alleged that the BJP MLA made derogatory remarks against a religion.

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, he said.

During the arrest, the Goshamahal MLA 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.

Singh sought to know why several complaints were lodged against him in various police stations. "Why there are complaints? Our Ram is not Ram? Our Sita is Sita? I requested the DGP with folded hands not to allow the person (Munawar Faruqui) who made comedy with vulgar language against Ram and Sita," he said.

On August 19, Raja Singh was taken into custody by the police when he tried to reach the venue of a show held to be held next day by stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui. Faruqui performed the show on that day even as the police picked up 50 people who tried to reach the venue and protest.