New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday suspended its Telangana MLA T. Raja Singh for making derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
In a letter to Singh, Member Secretary BJP Central Disciplinary Committee Om Pathak said, “You have expressed views contrary to the Party’s position on various matters, which is in clear violation of Rule XXV. 10 (a) of constitution of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“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.”
Pathak further wrote, “Please also show cause within 10 days from the date of this notice as to why you should not be expelled from the party.”
“Your detailed reply must reach the undersigned no later than September 2,” Pathak added.
Earlier in the day, the Hyderabad Police arrested the controversial BJP MLA for making derogatory remarks against Prophet.
The member of Telangana Legislative Assembly was arrested following huge protests by Muslims in parts of Hyderabad after he uploaded a video on Facebook making derogatory comments.
Police have booked a case against the MLA from Goshamahal constituency at Dabeerpura police station. He has been booked for promoting enmity between the different groups on grounds of religion.
Singh was taken into preventive custody last Saturday for threatening to disrupt comedian Munawar Faruqui’s show. The comedian’s show was held amid tight security.
Following the protests, police stepped up security in Hyderabad and in other parts of the state as a precautionary measure. Additional forces were deployed and police intensified patrolling in sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident.
The inauguration of a new flyover in Chandrayangutta was also postponed. Municipal administration minister K. T. Rama Rao was scheduled to inaugurate the flyover.
Raja Singh is notorious for making provocative speeches and derogatory remarks against other religions.
In June, he was booked for making offensive remarks against Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) was registered against him.
The police booked the controversial MLA on a complaint by a local resident, who cited a video of the MLA on YouTube.
Raja Singh allegedly used derogatory words against the Sufi saint and his dargah at Ajmer in Rajasthan.
Earlier, in February he was booked for threatening Uttar Pradesh voters.
The Hyderabad Police had booked him on the direction of the Election Commission of India after he openly threatened Uttar Pradesh voters of dire consequences if they don’t vote for the BJP.
Owaisi condemns comments
Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, slammed Raja Singh, saying that it was a deliberate attempt by the BJP to destroy the country’s social fabric.
Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Owaisi said, “I condemn the comments made by BJP MLA. BJP does not want to see peace in Hyderabad. They hate Prophet Mohammad and Muslims. They want to destroy the social fabric of India.”
He said that Prime Minister Modi should at least react to this issue.
“Fight with us politically but not like this and if PM Modi and BJP do not support these comments, then they should react. ...I will say to those people to not take the law into their hands,” Owaisi further said.
Protests had erupted in parts of Hyderabad late on Monday after Singh released a video in which he purportedly made the remarks. Protesters gathered in front of the city Police Commissioner’s office demanding immediate action against the MLA.
Police took the protesters into custody at the commissioner’s office in Basheer Bagh and shifted them to several police stations.
Hyderabad police increased the security and have deployed forces out of the Hyderabad police commissioner’s office. Police also increased security in sensitive parts of the city.
