Hate speech video: Telangana BJP’s Raja Singh, out on bail, arrested again

Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh was arrested again today, under the Preventive Detention Act, hours after releasing a hate speech video about “communal atmosphere” despite an embargo by court.

He pointedly targeted minister KT Rama Rao in his new video.

“Police in Telangana are puppets in the hands of Asaduddin Owaisi,” he said in the video shared hours before his arrest.

In the video, Singh said supporters of AIMIM chief, who is MP from Hyderabad, “have been given a free hand to throw stones… no FIR, no arrest”. Singh also falsely accused them of targeting places of worship. His reference was apparently to protests over his derogatory comments on the prophet Mohammed, which had led to his arrest and suspension from the BJP on Tuesday.

Singh blamed Municipal Development Minister KT Rama Rao (‘KTR’) and Home Minister Mehmood Ali for “why Telangana has a vitiated atmosphere today”. Singh said KTR is “an atheist who believes in no religion”, whose party TRS “plays the game of Muslim vote-bank” along with Asaduddin Owaisi.

“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,” Singh said in the video.

He went on to say: “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.”

On Tuesday Singh was arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity but was granted bail as the court rejected a police request for custody.

He is now lodged in Central Prison, Cherlapally, Hyderabad, according to the police.