In a second successive case of “disciplinary action” against its own party leader, the BJP on Tuesday suspended its Telangana MLA T Raja Singh for his controversial remarks in Hyderabad on Prophet Mohammad. Telangana is slated for Assembly polls in 2023.
The BJP had earlier suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma for an alleged controversial comment involving the Prophet in a television debate. Multiple cases have been filed against Sharma for her comments.
Singh, known for his hard Hindutva views, was suspended by the party following protests against his purported comments leading to his arrest by the Telangana Police. The suspended BJP leader was remanded in 14-day judicial custody by the court. However, Raja Singh was granted bail within hours of arrest. The court ordered his release after it noted that Section 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was not followed during the arrest.
A statement from Om Pathak, who is secretary of the BJP’s central disciplinary committee, said, “You have expressed views contrary to the party’s position on various matters, which are in clear violation of Rule XXV 10 (a) of the constitution of the Bharatiya Janata Party. I have been directed to convey to you that pending further enquiry, you are suspended from the party and from your responsibilities/assignments, if any, with immediate effect.”
Pathak also asked Singh to “show cause” within 10 days from the date of this notice as to why he should not be expelled from the party.
“Your detailed reply must reach the undersigned no later than 2nd of September 2022,” Pathak said.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed Singh made derogatory remarks on Prophet Mohammed. “They have not learned a lesson from what Nupur Sharma has said. This is a continuation of what Nupur Sharma had said,” he said.
The protests were triggered by a video on social media, in which Singh was heard making offensive remarks about Islam and Muslims.
Singh had released a video against stand-up comic Munawar Faruqui, who held a show in Hyderabad last week amid protests. Raja Singh said Faruqui hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus in his show.
In another development, Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay was arrested when he was set to protest in the case of the alleged involvement of ruling TRC MLC Kavitha Kalvakuntala in the Delhi liquor policy issue. The BJP State chief alleged police mishandling of the BJP activists.
Kavitha is the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party which he sees making inroads in the State in a bid to oust him in the next Assembly polls.
BJP president JP Nadda strongly condemned what he called the “illegal arrest” of the BJP State president by the TRS Government.
“KCR is worried seeing the massive support that the BJP is receiving from all corners of the State against his corrupt and family-centric regime,” tweeted Nadda. “We will fight democratically and ensure that in the coming elections TRC & KCR will be wiped out,” he said in another tweet.
This week Union Minister Amit Shah visited Telangana when Congress MLA from Munugodu, K Rajagopal Reddy joined the BJP in his presence. He also addressed a public rally, giving a call for KCR’s ouster.