Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 25: The suspended Telangana BJP member of the state Assembly T Raja Singh, who was released by the court on Wednesday, was re-arrested on Thursday, this time under more stringent Preventive Detention Act, after he violated the bail conditions and released a video pointedly targeting minister KT Rama Rao, the son of the chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).
The video about “communal atmosphere” in Telangana, alleged that the “Police in Telangana are puppets in the hands of Asaduddin Owaisi.” He said in the video shared hours before his arrest from his house in Hyderabad that supporters of AIMIM chief Owaisi, who is MP from Hyderabad, “have been given a free hand to throw stones… no FIR, no arrest.” He accused them of targeting places of worship. His reference was apparently to protests over his comments on Prophet Mohammed, which had led to his arrest and suspension from the BJP on Tuesday.
He blamed Municipal Development Minister KT Rama Rao (‘KTR’), KCR’s son, and Home Minister Mehmood Ali for “why Telangana has a vitiated atmosphere today.” He said KTR is “an atheist who believes in no religion”, whose party Telangana Rashtra Samiti “plays the game of Muslim vote-bank” along with AIMIM’s Owaisi.
His arrest afresh under the Preventive Detention Act would enable police to keep him in jail, if wanted, for one year like a habitual criminal. Earlier he was arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity but the court turned down the remand application of the police for not following proper procedure in arrest and ordered his immediate release. On Thursday the FIR was registered against him at the Dabeerpura Police Station under sections 153a, 295, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code. The Hyderabad Police said records disclose that out of 101 criminal cases registered against him, he was involved in 18 communal offenses.
“I have taken the risk today to come in front of you,” Raja Singh said in the new video, aware that he was violating bail conditions. “The court has told me not to address the media. But the situation compelled me to do this today.” He accused “national media channels” of presenting facts “here and there” (or out of context).
“Let me tell you the reason for communal tension in Telangana. There’s this stand-up comedian called Munawar Faruqui. Three months ago we’d got his show in Hyderabad cancelled, with the police’s support,” Raja Singh said. “This comedian then contacted KTR on Twitter… KTR invited him; gave him police protection. I was arrested. Deploying 5,000 cops, including four IPS officers, he held the programme successfully,” he further said. “KTR allowed Munawar Faruqui to make jokes about our gods… while beating Ram bhakts outside.” The reference was to a show on August 20.
“I had requested the DGP, the commissioner, that such a comedian should not be allowed to hold a programme who abused our gods,” he said. “But KTR’s ego came in between… These people play the game of Muslim vote-bank. They thought the BJP will gain if the programme is cancelled. And the TRS and AIMIM will gain if it’s held successfully.”
On being suspended from the BJP after his arrest on Tuesday, he said, “I will explain to my party that I wasn’t targeting a religion; I was targeting individuals.” The BJP had said after his arrest that Raja Singh’s views were in complete contrast with the party’s position on the matter.
As for what next, he said, “I will legally fight the court battle.” Known for his hardline Hindutva rhetoric, he is named in a number of cases. He is now lodged in Central Prison, Cherlapally, Hyderabad, according to the police.
Mangalhat Police executed the PD order on Singh and he was arrested amidst a large crowd of protestors who gathered at Shalibanda in Hyderabad over his alleged remarks forcing police to resort to lathi charge to control the protesters, while his supporters kept chanting “Jai Shri Ram.”
The BJP while suspending him earlier had said Singh’s remarks were against the party’s line on the issue. The suspension letter issued to him read, “You have expressed views contrary to the Party’s position on various matters, which is in clear violation of Rule XXV. 10 (a) of the constitution of the Bharatiya Janata Party.” The suspension letter written by the head of the disciplinary committee Om Pathak stated, “I have been directed to convey to you that pending further inquiry, you are suspended from the party and from your responsibilities/assignments if any, with immediate effect. Please also show cause within 10 days from the date of this notice as to why should you not be expelled from the party. Your detailed reply must reach the undersigned no later than 2nd of September 2022.”
Earlier the BJP had suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma for commenting against the Prophet and expelled Delhi leader Naveen Jindal for similar remarks.
So far, none of the individuals or parties named by Raja Singh in this new video has reacted. Munawar Faruqui, who is from Gujarat, has had to face show cancellations, cases and worse — including a month in jail in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh — apparently over his jokes on religion, politics and other contemporary, contentious issues.
